FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 17, 2008

Monmouth County Police Academy graduates 26

FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Police Academy graduated 26 new police officers recently, many of whom will now go on to serve as full-time patrolmen.

The graduating class, five of whom paid their own way through the Academy and do not have promises of employment, trained for nearly 750 hours over the course of 20 weeks in order to complete the 75th Basic Course for Police Officers.

Holmdel patrolman Michael J. Dowens (2nd from left) was congratulated by Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, County Sheriff Kim Guadagno and Freeholder William C. Barham following the graduation of the Monmouth County’s 75th Basic Course for Police Officers.  Downes was the class Merit Award winner (an honor bestowed by the other members of the graduating class on the member who they feel best embodies the qualities and skills of a police recruit).

 In his graduation address, Freeholder William C. Barham praised the young officers and said it takes courage, dedication, integrity and good judgment to be a police officer.

“It takes initiative and mature judgment to deal with the circumstances you will encounter on the job,” Barham said. “You must always be prepared to protect our homes and our lives. As police officers you will make our communities better and safer places to live.

“Wear your uniforms and badges with pride because you earned it,” Barham continued. “Congratulations to all of you on your achievement, and thank you for making Monmouth County a safe place to work and raise our children.”

Police Academy Director John G. McCormack said the new officers are fully trained and ready to begin protecting citizens in the communities they will serve. As police officers, he said, they will be held to a higher standard of conduct and are expected to demonstrate an abiding sense of fairness.

“The people you serve expect these things from you,” McCormack said.

Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow, who also attended the graduation, said it takes a special kind of person to be a police officer. “These brave young men and women stand between right and wrong and keep our communities safe. I pray they all have safe and happy careers.”

Award winners are: Matthew C. Ehrenreich, Academic Award; Matthew Ehrenreich, Marksmanship Award; Eric Jennings, Physical Fitness Award; Daniel Kobil, Traffic Officers’ Association Award, Michael J. Dowens, Merit Award, and Jason M. Caruso, Outstanding Training Award.   

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The graduates and the towns where they will work:

Christopher C. Bartlett, Eatontown
Christopher J. Brady, Ocean Township
Savino A. Capilupi, Alternate Route*
Jason M. Caruso, Alternate Route*
Scott R. DeLuca, Freehold Township
Michael J. Dowens, Holmdel
Brian P. Egan, Deal
Matthew C. Ehrenreich, Red Bank
Peter J. Farmer, Monmouth Beach
Nicholas Iozzi, Freehold
Eric R. Jennings, Wall
Daniel J. Kobil, Alternate Route*
Jarrad Kodran, Freehold Township
Nicholas D. Maletto, Red Bank
Sean P. McGraw, Holmdel
Ryan M. Meixsell, Brielle
George T. Olski Jr., Long Branch
Scott T. O’Shea, Lake Como
Michael J. Popek, Howell
Jeffrey S. Sellmeyer, Jamesburg
Robert M. Shanklin III, Wall
Paul J. Smikovecus, Alternate Route*
Nicholas D. Vaccaro, Deal
Zandra M. Vega, Freehold
Jeffrey D. Waybright, Alternate Route*
Matthew J. Zilinski, Howell

* Alternate Route indicates those who put themselves through the Academy.