HOME | NEWS & EVENTS | PUBLIC INFORMATION  
graphic News and Events graphic
  NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE
OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE

 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 09, 2001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John R. Hagerty, State Police Public Information Office
(609) 882-2000 x6515

STATE POLICE RECRUITS GRADUATE TRAINING ACADEMY & RECEIVE ASSIGNMENTS ACROSS STATE

75 New Troopers From The 125th & 126th New Jersey State Police Recruit
Classes Complete Intensive 21 Week Training Program

 

       Asbury Park - Attorney General John J. Farmer, Jr. and Colonel Carson J. Dunbar, Jr., Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, today presented badges to 75 of New Jersey's newest state troopers during graduation ceremonies at the historic Convention Hall/Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, Monmouth County.

       Attorney General Farmer noted that the 37 men and women of the 125th State Police class and the 38 men and women of the 126th class are the most recent trainees to graduate from the State Police Academy's intensive 21-week training program and 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.

       "Congratulations to each member of the 125th and 126th classes for demonstrating the strength, the intelligence, the skills and - above all else - the commitment required to complete the State Police Academy training," Attorney General Farmer told the graduates. "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."

       According to Col. Dunbar, the recruits represent the next generation of New Jersey state troopers to graduate from the State Police training academy. The 75 trooper-recruits embarked on their career choice nearly one year ago on Oct. 16, 2000 with the filing of initial applications. The graduates of the 125th and 126th classes include two white females, one black female, three African-American males, two Hispanic males and three Asian males. Three additional State Police recruit classes are currently undergoing the training regimen and are slated to graduate later this month and in March of 2002.

      "Today, the troopers of the 125th and 126th New Jersey State Police classes 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." "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.

      According to Captain David S. Leonardis, Commandant of the State Police Training Academy, 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 the implementation of an instructor/recruit mentor program. Additionally, each individual lesson plan used during the course of pre-service training was completely reviewed to insure conformity with independent training requirements. Also, 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.

       The 125th and 126th classes were 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 scenarios involving the legal use of search and seizure procedures. The recruits participated in extensive training and role-playing exercises which focused on 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 ethnic, cultural, community 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 State Police recruit training classes, Col. Dunbar reported that each of the applicants applying to the State Police during the recently completed recruiting cycle were 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 outside the State Police; 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.

      Dunbar said that as probationary troopers, the 75 graduates of the 125th and 126th classes 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 graduates of the 125th State Police Training Class are:

LAST NAME FIRST NAME COUNTY
AMATO RAYMOND A UNION
BENTIVEGNA JON P OCEAN
BILLINGS CRAIG E MONMOUTH
BOAG SEAN A OCEAN
BRODZIAK MICHAEL K MIDDLESEX
BURNS JASON S OCEAN
BURT JOHN C CAMDEN
CARLYLE ERIN S HUDSON
CLAY JAMES A CUMBERLAND
DELLANOCE JOSEPH S ATLANTIC
DORRLER SCOTT N HUNTERDON
FEDGE DANIEL W SUSSEX
FLOWERS JARROD L BURLINGTON
GERTSEN KRISTOFER E OCEAN
GREGORY MICHAEL E MONMOUTH
GROSSMAN ADAM L MIDDLESEX
HASPEL WILLIAM J OCEAN
JONES SEAN D GLOUCESTER
KELLER RONALD J CAMDEN
LOGAN RODNEY J MERCER
LONCZAK MATTHEW M MIDDLESEX
MATHEW SAJITH C UNION
MCKELVEY MICHELLE L BURLINGTON
NICHOLSON ROGER E ATLANTIC
O'CONNOR PATRICK B BERGEN
PENNA DAVID H MIDDLESEX
PERRINE EDWARD J OCEAN
POWELL THOMAS J MONMOUTH
ROUSHINKO CRAIG A MORRIS
SCHULKE JOHN M ATLANTIC
SOOS FRANK M SOMERSET
STAFYLERAS CHRISTOPHER W MONMOUTH
TROTMAN CHARLES A BURLINGTON
TUTKO MICHAEL W WARREN
VICARI JOSEPH H OCEAN
WEINER BRIAN L OCEAN
WRONSKI ROBERT D UNION

The graduates of the 126th State Police recruit training class are:

LAST NAME FIRST NAME COUNTY
ALBERICO GIOVANNI ATLANTIC
AUCLAIR AARON J BERGEN
BAGGS, SR. MICHAEL W MONMOUTH
BALBO DAVID J SUSSEX
BAUGH STEVEN A CAMDEN
BOLAND JAMES A GLOUCESTER
BOTTI JOSEPH R MIDDLESEX
BRISBONE MELVIN L CUMBERLAND
BUERKLE MARY E MONMOUTH
BYRNE KEVIN T MONMOUTH
CARUGNO ANTHONY W ATLANTIC
CLOWES ERIC J MORRIS
CONHEENEY CHRISTOPHER J HUDSON
COSTELLO RICHARD C UNION
DALTWAS THOMAS M
DAMIANI VINCENT M CAPE MAY
DE LOS SANTOS DOMINGO E CAMDEN
DELUCIA DANIEL OCEAN
DEMLER ROBERT M BERGEN
DEVINE MARK J CAMDEN
DONNELLY MICHAEL F MIDDLESEX
EFFINGER TIMOTHY J ATLANTIC
ELLIOTT BRIAN J CUMBERLAND
ESKRIDGE CHRISTIAN D GLOUCESTER
FRITZ KEVIN M MORRIS
GEORGESON SHAUN M OCEAN
GIARNIERI NICHOLAS UNION
HART MICHAEL J UNION
HERNANDEZ JERRY SALEM
HILDRETH DANIEL P ESSEX
HOGAN BRETT M MERCER
KERRICK PAUL F UNION
LOPRESTI, JR SALVATORE GLOUCESTER
POLL RONALD C MONMOUTH
ROBINA FRANCIS F PASSAIC
RUOCCO DANTE J MORRIS
SMITH MARK F
THONGVICHITH SATSAY HUDSON

 

# # #

 
      
Recruiting
Compliments & Complaints
News & Events
About Us