Police academy graduates ready to begin careers

The recruits of the Ocean County Police Academy’s Basic Police Class No. 83 marked the end of their initial training, and began the next phase of their law enforcement careers as they graduated Jan. 28.

The ceremony, held at Georgian Court University, Lakewood, marks the completion of 21 weeks of extensive training for the 48 recruits. Police Chief Daniel DePolo of the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department was the guest speaker.

The recruits began their training at the Ocean County Police Academy, located in Ocean County Park, Lakewood, in August.

Ocean County Sheriff William L. Polhemus, who oversees the academy, said the mission of the academy is to prepare police recruits mentally, physically, ethically and with a proficiency of skills to perform police duties at a high level of competency.

Polhemus noted that of the 48 graduates, three would be joining the ranks of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

Local graduates receiving class awards were James M. Joiner, Manalapan Township Police Department, high academic; Jason Diffoot, Lakewood Police Department; and Derek C. Gorski, Jackson Police Department,

Local graduates who attained a perfect score in one or more of the three qualifying firearms rounds are: Derek C. Gorski, Jackson Township Police Department; Brian D. Ulman, Brick Township Police Department; Jason Diffoot, Lakewood Police Department; and Nicholas A. Garaputo, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

The following is the list of local graduates and their respective police departments: Marc C. Alexander, Eric T. Haugh, Michael J. Miller and Brian D. Ulman, all of the Brick Township Police Department; Derek C. Gorski and Shaun P. White, of Jackson Township Police Department; Anthony Caraballo, Jason Diffoot, Nathan Reyes and Kelly E. Zrebiec, all of the Lakewood Police Department; James M. Joiner, of the Manalapan Township Police Department; Nicholas A. Garaputo, Gerard A. Kilfeather and Michael A. O’Hearn, all of Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.