COURT HOUSE – May 9 was memorable for 26 officers who were members of the 32nd Basic Course for Special Law Enforcement Officers.
At 4 p.m. in the Middle Township Performing Arts Center, they will become Class 2 police officers, which enables them to carry a weapon. They have trained for the day since Dec. 8, 2007 at the Cape May County Police Academy, Crest Haven.
Class president was Robert Saunders from the Lower Township Police Department. He was elected by members of the class.
Freeholder Ralph Sheets, retired Wildwood police chief, addressed the class along with keynote speaker Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st).
The graduates trained for 20 hours per week. The officers will supplement local police departments in Cape May County during the summer season when crowds increase, and there is need for more officers.
The class started with a physical fitness average of 73.27 percent and finished with a physical fitness average of 92.07 percent.
The officers lost 132 pounds during training and their body fat percentage dropped from 19.04 to 11.2 percent.
Also, the class lost a total of 68.5 inches from their waistlines.
Individual Awards to be presented:
High Academic Award: Officer Matthew O’Loughlin, Wildwood Police, 96.14 percent
Vehicle Operations Award: Officer Justin Miller, Wildwood Police, 28.56 seconds
Physical Fitness Award: Officer Justin Miller, Wildwood Police, 97.9 percent
Firearms Award: Officer Robert Voorhees, North Wildwood Police, 98.3 percent
Directors Award: Officer Thomas Taylor, Stone Harbor Police
Class members:
Berridge, Thomas, Sea Isle City
Morgan, Shane, Sea Isle City
Busch, Jason, Ocean City
O’Loughlin, Matthew, Wildwood
Catarcio, Maurice, Cape May
Palma, Steven, Wildwood
Cole, Jeffrey, North Wildwood
Parker, Bret, Ocean City
Cooper III, Theodore, Sea Isle City
Pastore, Michael, North Wildwood
Dare, Andrew, Ocean City
Perrotta, Jennifer, Avalon
Donnelly, Matthew, Wildwood
Rafter, Matthew, Ocean City
Fiordimondo, Jerome Wildwood
Ross, David, Ocean City
Geortler, Jeffrey, Wildwood
Rowello, Jason, Wildwood Crest
Hackman, Michael, Wildwood
Santiago, Mark, North Wildwood
Higgs Jr., Kerry, Wildwood
Saunders, Robert, Lower Township
Inglis, Daniel, Wildwood Crest
Sexton, Michael, Sea Isle City
Luna, Cesar, North Wildwood
Taylor, Thomas, Stone Harbor
Menz, John, Lower Township
Voorhees, Robert, North Wildwood
Miller, Justin, Wildwood
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