Police academy graduates 68 officers

LAKEWOOD — Following more than 20 weeks of training, the Ocean County Police Academy recently graduated 41 new law enforcement officers and 27 special officers.

"This is a very important day in the lives of all our recruits and their families," said Sheriff William L. Polhemus, who oversees the police academy located in Ocean County Park.

"I want to commend not only the recruits, but the instructors and the academy staff who work very hard to make our officers the best they can be," he added.

Among the officers from the 78th Basic Police Recruit Class who received awards was Peter M. LaRosa, Lakewood Police Department, the Ocean County Emerald Society James J. Tracey Leadership Award recipient.

The following recruits were among those named to the Possible Club for attaining a perfect score in one or more of the three qualifying firearms rounds: Robert M. Reiff Jr. of the Jackson Town-ship Police Department, and Christopher J. Wasnesky, Jackson Township Police Department.

Among the graduates were Kevin M. Bell and Peter M. LaRosa, both of the Lakewood Police Department; Michael T. Bollard, Daniel G. Ecks, Robert M. Rieff Jr. and Christopher J. Wasnesky, all of the Jackson Township Police Department; Vincent G. Cipully and Christopher D. Watkins, both of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department; and Keith A. Dun-can, Freehold Township Police Depart-ment.