40th Special Law Enforcement Officer Class Two Graduation Ceremony

COURT HOUSE – Much study, sweat, and desire paid off for 30 police officers when, in unison, they raised their right hands to take their oath of office from Freeholder Leonard Desiderio, Fri., May 11.
Diverse members in the 40th Basic Course for Class Two Special Law Enforcement Officers graduated at the Middle Township Performing Arts Center. The class motto was “Adversity doesn’t build character, it reveals it.”
Desiderio address the class, telling them what they already learned, “This was the toughest training you have ever experienced.” He told the class, its family members and friends that those young officers had been trained to be “capable of handling any situation.” In so doing, he said, they had also been trained “to protect themselves and return home to their loved ones.”
He noted they would be challenged this summer, but that he was confident of their ability “to rise to the challenge.“ The oath he administered shortly thereafter, he said, “Will define who you have become…on and off duty.“
“You have become part of America’s finest,“ Desiderio said.
Keynote speaker Middle Township Police Chief Christopher Leusner, the youngest officer in his department to rise to the rank of chief, told the graduates, “You will see the worst of what society has to offer and you will see the best society has to offer…You’re in for a heck of a ride.”
Leusner added that the new Class II officers would provide an important service to their respective communities. They would make a difference, yet that would be difficult to measure, he noted. Perhaps they would prevent a crime or deter some deed that would enable a life to continue, yet they might never know the positive impact they had, he said.
“The results are real,” Leusner said, “This is a potentially wonderful career.”
On Dec. 10, 2011, the first day of their academy training, there were 37 members in the class. Time, life and the rigorous training claimed seven, reducing the final number of graduates to 30.
When the class began, there was a collective physical fitness average of 79.6 percent. Over the course of training, that number escalated until, on graduation day, the class finished with an average of 90.1 percent. Their body fat percentage dropped from 12.3 percent to 9.6 percent.
The class final academic average was 90.22 percent.
The class president was Michael DeNight of the Wildwood Police Department, elected by members of the class. In line with tradition, he presented a class plaque to Public Safety Training Center Director Anthony P. Saduk Jr. as a token of appreciation.
Individual awards included:
* High Academic Award: Officer Kevin McGowan, North Wildwood Police Department.
* Vehicle Operations Award: Officer Richard Schmidt Jr., North Wildwood Police Department.
* Physical Fitness Award: Officer Michael Reardon, Wildwood Crest Police Department.
* Firearms Award: Officer Darwin Cooper, Cape May Police Department.
* Directors Award: Officer Kevin McGowan, North Wildwood Police Department.
* Police Training Commission Merit Award: Joseph Thornton of Ocean City Police Department. Presenting his award was Wildwood Crest Thomas DePaul, president, Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association.