FOLLOWING FIVE months of intensive training and pledging to protect and serve, 47 new police officers graduated from the Ocean County Police Academy Feb. 8.

"During the last five months you spent at the Ocean County Police Academy, you learned not only the skills to become a police officer but you became part of a law enforcement family that works hard, day in and day out, to protect our neighborhoods, our communities, our county and beyond," said Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Gary Quinn, liaison to the Ocean County Sheriff's Office.

Quinn was joined on the dais by Commissioners Virginia E. Haines and Frank Sadeghi, Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy, and a host of representatives from police departments and law enforcement agencies across Ocean County and beyond.

"My colleagues and I on the Board of Commissioners, are very proud of the work that is done at the Ocean County Police Academy," Quinn said. "I want you to know that the Ocean County Board of Commissioners has the ultimate respect for what you do each and every day. We appreciate your hard work, and your dedication.

"We know you will continue to make our communities, our county, a great and especially, a safe, place to live and visit," he said.

Guest speaker at the ceremony held at Georgian Court University was Dr. Caesar DePaco, who was also honored by the Police Academy for a substantial donation that is being used to enhance the academy's training program specifically to acquire specialized equipment for the academy's Physical Fitness and Defensive Tactics training program.

The equipment acquired through this donation will directly benefit more than 300 law enforcement trainees each year.

The award winners at the Feb. 8 ceremony honoring Police Academy Graduation Basic Class 116 were Matthew W. Wright, Seaside Heights Police Department, the James J. Tracey Leadership Award; Maurice V. Willis Jr., Long Branch Police Department, PTC Merit Award Winner; Sean J. Hirtes, Toms River Township Police Department, High Academic Award; Conner R. Ferino, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Overall Award and High Physical Fitness Award; Keith L. Otten, Long Branch Police Department, High Marksmanship Award, and Jonathon Buss, Andrew Caola, Sean Hirtes, Hunter MacDonald, Andrew McCarthy, Keith Otten, Jake Piantanida, Jesse Polozzo, Christopher Rouh, all Perfect Score Award.

Patrolman Christopher Linnell, Seaside Heights Police Department, was awarded the Academy Instructor Award by Sheriff Mastronardy.

The graduates and their respective police departments are: Hader Abbas, Grace J. Beebe, Christopher L. Bier, Andrew J. Caola, Aiden J. Cosentino, Matthew L. Crespi, Zachary T. DeMetro, Ryan M. Emmetts, Brandon C. Giuliano, Logan P. Jaramillo, Anthony T. Koletis, Evan M. Langan, Tyler C. Machnik, Andrew K. McCarthy, Christopher N. Meyers, Anthony J. Syarto, Matthew W. Wright, all Seaside Heights Police Department; Jonathon G. Buss, Jake A. Piantanida and Sean M. Williams, Seaside Park Police Department; Andrew J. Castle, Jaquan Z. Edwards, Jesse J. Polozzo and Raymond J. Smith IV, all Ocean County Sheriff's Office; Kevin D. Cusanelli, Conner R. Ferino, Bailey J. Ferrugia, John P. Nista, Jr., Trey A. Rivera, Steven G. Santangelo, Michael A. Traina, Jr., and Sean M. Zukowitz, all Point Pleasant Beach Police Department; Michael P. Delaney, Brick Township Police Department; Daniel M. Grothues, Wall Township Police Department; Kevin A. Gutierrez, Asbury Park Police Department; Sean J. Hirtes, Toms River Police Department; Peter M Lauria and Cole M. Olejarz, Jackson Township Police Department; Alexander Lopez, Lakewood Police Department; Hunter L. MacDonald, Keansburg Police Department; Keith L. Otten and Maurice V. Willis, Jr., Long Branch Police Department; Jovanni A. Romero, Christopher J. Rouh and Livingston Vargas-Pena, all Trenton Police Department; Matthew R. Sulzer, Bay Head Police Department; and Max R. Wendling, Clinton Police Department.