Asbury Park - Attorney General Peter Harvey and State Police Superintendent Colonel Joseph R. Fuentes today presented badges to New Jersey's newest state troopers during graduation ceremonies at the Sea Girt Training Facility.

"The State Police is a dynamic law enforcement organization, a nationally respected organization, and an organization in the midst of becoming even stronger through historic change," Attorney General Peter C. Harvey told the graduates. "The demanding nature of State Police work-and the complexity of the challenges involved for those who do it-calls for people of strength, people of character, and people who are willing to step up and assume the burden of leadership. Having successfully completed your training, you new members of the State Police family have shown that you possess the qualities needed to answer the call."

According to Colonel Fuentes, the 38 troopers of the 140th and 45 troopers of the 141st classes embarked on their training more than a year ago with the filing of initial employment applications.

"Today's police officers face tremendous scrutiny in an environment in which threats to public safety come from many directions," Colonel Fuentes said. "These graduating troopers have been selected and trained to perform their jobs constitutionally with wisdom and compassion. We commend them for completing their rigorous training, and we commit ourselves to supporting them as they grow to become the best law enforcement officers the region has to offer," he added.

According to Captain William Toms, commandant of the State Police Training Academy, the training program has undergone significant changes during the past several years. Changes include a new recruit evaluation system designed to compliment the adult-based learning methodology, wireless internet laptop research, significantly smaller class size, use of firearms simulation training scenarios and the implementation of a recruit/recruit mentor program.

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 140th and 141st 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 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 detailed instruction from experts outside of the State Police, including representatives from ethnic, cultural, community and professional organizations.

In commenting on the overall selection process for State Police recruit training classes, Colonel Fuentes reported that each applicant applying to the State Police is required to have a minimum of 60 college credits plus two years of work experience or, alternatively, a bachelor's degree.

Colonel Fuentes said that the probationary troopers 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 Trooper-Coaches and supervisors.

Here are some interesting facts about some of the recruits of the 140th and 141st Classes: Of the following 83 new troopers, twenty-three of them had prior law enforcement experience, one recruit had a child and four became engaged during their academy stay.

The graduates of the 140th State Police recruit training class include:

The graduates of the 141st State Police recruit training class include:

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