STATE POLICE RECRUITS GRADUATE TRAINING ACADEMY & RECEIVE ASSIGNMENTS ACROSS STATE

120th State Police Class Second Group Of New Troopers
To Join Ranks In Past 30 Days

Trenton - Attorney General John J. Farmer, Jr. and Colonel Carson J. Dunbar, Jr., Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, today announced that an additional 37 newly trained state troopers from the 120th State Police Recruit Class have completed their 26-week training program and have received patrol assignments at stations throughout the state. The 120th Class is the second group of 168 recruit trainees currently undergoing training to graduate from the State Police Academy in Sea Girt in as many weeks - the 121st, 122nd and 123rd training classes will graduate from the State Police Academy over the next sixty days.

120th State Police Class

         "I want to congratulate each member of the 120th Class for demonstrating the strength, the intelligence, the skills and -- above all else -- the commitment required to complete their State Police Academy training," Attorney General Farmer said. "As Attorney General, I am counting on that same combination of strength, skills and dedication to help the New Jersey State Police continue to evolve as the nation's premiere statewide law enforcement agency."

        Farmer noted that the men and woman of the 120th - 123rd New Jersey State Police Recruit Training Classes, along with the graduates of the 119th Class, are part of the first group of recruits to undergo instruction as part of an entirely new training concept known as Action Adult-Based Learning Methodology -- a training format that utilizes advanced facilitation methods, training scenarios, role-playing exercises and student presentations to accomplish training objectives. Additionally, the trooper recruits have been fully trained in the use of police computer systems and each will utilize a portable laptop computer from which police-related information can be quickly and accurately obtained and police reports can be entered directly into the revamped State Police data collection systems.

         "Today, the troopers of the 120th New Jersey State Police Class have completed a very long journey -- a journey that began well over one year ago," Colonel Dunbar said. "It is truly an honor to congratulate each trooper and to wish the newest members of the New Jersey State Police success and God-speed as they report to their duty assignments," Colonel Dunbar said. "Today's troopers will face a much more complex world and will have less margin for error. They must think and act independently and possess the self-confidence and focus to perform their job constitutionally and with compassion," he added.

         Dunbar noted that the Training Bureau has undergone significant changes during the past year. Changes include a new recruit evaluation system designed to compliment the adult-based learning methodology, wireless internet laptop research supported by a newly appointed academy librarian, significantly smaller class size for pre-service training, use of firearms simulation training scenarios, and an instructor/recruit mentor program. Additionally, each individual lesson plan that is used during the course of pre-service training was completely reviewed to insure conformity with independent training requirements.

         The 120th class was also challenged in the specific areas of constitutional search and seizure with the implementation of revised State Police guidelines and exhaustive classroom and practical training scenario's involving the legal use of search and seizure procedures. The recruits participated in extensive training and role-playing exercises involving responding to and handling domestic violence situations, human dignity and human relations exercises, cultural diversity and awareness and sensitivity training and the State Police initiative of community policing and community relations. In the area involving cultural diversity and minority instruction, the trooper recruits received extensive and detailed instruction from experts outside of the State Police, including representatives from groups and organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and other ethnic, cultural and professional organizations. Such interactive training included extensive lecture, practical exercises and role playing in cultural diversity and awareness especially as they relate to the role of police in our society.

         Yet another training initiative that has been successfully integrated into the State Police curriculum is an intensive training course which details ‘Spanish for Law Enforcement Officers.' This course exposes State Police recruits, and on-duty troopers, to extensive language instruction geared to enable them to better communicate with Spanish speaking individuals about police-related matters and to better assist injured persons, disabled motorists, and in communicating with Spanish speaking victims and witnesses.

         Recognizing the important role that the field-training officer plays in the development of a new state trooper, the Social Science Unit made major revisions to the Trooper/Coach training program. The revised training required to become a Trooper/Coach was upgraded to a five-day course, which includes a comprehensive evaluation of the Trooper/Coach's ability to effectively train new troopers. The most significant change involving the Trooper/Coach program is assigning two trooper coaches to each probationary trooper.

         In commenting on the overall selection process for the 119th-123rd recruit training classes, Col. Dunbar reported that each of the applicants applying to the State Police during the November - December, 1999 recruiting cycle was required to have a minimum of 60 college credits plus two years of work experience or a bachelor degree. During the selection process, several "firsts" were achieved, including the use of a blind screen to evaluate applications for minimum qualifications; the implementation of a new State Police examination; changes to the physical qualification test to mirror the same examination required of all State Police enlisted personnel and affording candidates several opportunities to take the test during a four-week period; revamping the interview process to include two members from the State Police as well as a Human Resource Specialist from the state; an in-depth review of individuals recommended for disqualification during the background investigation by a State Police Bureau Chief, a Section Supervisor, personally by the Superintendent and finally by the Office of State Police Affairs in the Attorney General's Office.

         Superintendent Dunbar said that as probationary troopers, the 37 graduates of the 120th Class (31 white males, 4 African-American males and 2 Hispanic males) will be assigned to stations throughout the state and, over the next 11 weeks, the new troopers will begin their careers under the watchful eye of their newly trained and experienced Trooper/Coaches and supervisors.

         The new state trooper's of the 120th State Police Training Class are:

BERGEN COUNTY:

Matthew W. Broderick.........................................................................Closter
Tyrone A. Coronato..............................................................................East Rutherford
Todd C. Roth........................................................................................East Rutherford

BURLINGTON COUNTY:

David A. Kortman..................................................................Moorestown
Joseph S. Kucowski III...........................................................Wrightstown
James A. Parker......................................................................Burlington

CAMDEN COUNTY:

Michael C. Flory.....................................................................Pine Hill

ESSEX COUNTY:

Thomas P. McEnroe...............................................................South Orange
Brian C. Polite........................................................................Newark
William K. Woodward...........................................................Montclair

GLOUCESTER COUNTY:

Carmen J. Dinovi III...............................................................Williamstown
Darrin J. Pulman.....................................................................Sewell

HUDSON COUNTY:

Luigi G. D'Addario................................................................Bayonne

HUNTERDON COUNTY:

Terrance J. Hendricks.............................................................Lambertville
Matthew P. Tirabassi..............................................................Glen Gardner
Christopher Vozzo..................................................................Whitehouse

MERCER COUNTY:

James C. Tchir........................................................................Hamilton

MIDDLESEX COUNTY:

Carlos Estevez........................................................................Jamesberg
Kenneth A. Hoppe.................................................................New Brunswick
Sean T. O'Connor...................................................................Edison
David J. Sierotowicz...............................................................North Brunswick

MONMOUTH COUNTY:

John B. Hayes.........................................................................
Joseph M. Little......................................................................Red Bank

MORRIS COUNTY:

David G. Bogdan....................................................................Rockaway
Erich P. Reuter........................................................................Wharton

OCEAN COUNTY:

Anthony L. Aguanno..............................................................Lakewood
Quinn M. Derose....................................................................Lakewood
Nicholas Onnemeo.................................................................Lavallette

PASSAIC COUNTY:

Fedro A. Gomez.....................................................................Paterson
Mark A. Hanselman................................................................Clifton
Michael Kerr...........................................................................Paterson

SOMERSET COUNTY:

Marc D. Friedenberger...........................................................Franklin Park

SUSSEX COUNTY:

Helmut Bisl............................................................................Montague
Christopher A. Drew..............................................................Sussex

UNION COUNTY:

Brian N. Green........................................................................Plainfield
Brian Murphy.........................................................................Union Township

WARREN COUNTY:

David S. Perschy....................................................................Washington Township