To the strains of bagpipers playing "Amazing Grace" marking the ending of their graduation ceremony from the Ocean County Police Academy, the 73 members making up Special Law Enforcement Officer II Class #30 and #31 were now ready to begin their work as police officers.

"This graduation marks a new beginning as you make your way into our communities as peace officers," said Ocean County Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little, as he addressed the new officers. "As an officer you will assume a role in the community that consists of being a mother, father, counselor, friend, role model and protector. 

"Yours is not an easy job and I thank you for wanting to do it," he said.

The new officers spent several months training at the Ocean County Police Academy, here, being put through their paces by a host of instructors in areas including academics, physical fitness, and marksmanship.

"I also want to commend the hard work and dedication of the instructors here at the academy and I want to recognize Sheriff William L. Polhemus, who leads the academy operations, along with Charles Dishon, Academy Director and William Dikun, the Chief instructor," Little said. "Each of you set high standards in law enforcement and continue to serve and support our officers long after graduation."

With this weekend being the start of the summer tourism season in Ocean County, many of the new officers will be working in towns that are home to many tourist attractions and businesses like Point Pleasant Beach and Seaside Heights.

Veteran law enforcement officials including Dishon and Beach Haven Police Chief Kevin Kohler cautioned the new officers to be careful and to be fair as they make their way to the communities they will now serve.

Kohler, who also serves as President of the Ocean County Chiefs of Police Association, gave the keynote address.
In addition, two of the new officers are recent returnees from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Both U.S. Marines, Tymur Zavalnyuk served in both Iraq and Afghanistan and now will be a member of the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, and Nicholas Morgan, served in Afghanistan, and he also will be a member of the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department.

"We salute these fine Marines for their service to our Country," Little said.

Recognized during the ceremony for achievements in various areas of training were from Class 30: Gregory S. Zytko, Seaside Heights Police Department, High Academics; John A. Bernaski, Lavallette Police Department, High Physical Fitness; Gerald J. LaStella, Jr., Seaside Heights Police Department, High Marksmanship; Vincent W. Cappetta, Seaside Heights Police Department, High Overall; Robert J. Urie, Seaside Heights Police Department, Police Training Commission Merit Award.

Award recipients in Class 31 were: Sean P. McCarthy, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Academic; Mohamed E. Mahmoud, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Physical Fitness; Kevin C. Wagner, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Marksmanship; Mohamed E. Mahmoud, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, High Overall; Kevin C. Wagner, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, Distinguished Expert Perfect Score, and Kevin C. Wagner, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, Police Training Commission Merit Award.

The following is a list of graduates from Class 30 and their respective Police Departments: Chad Anthony, Everett J. Bajada, Todd D. Bauerband, Matthew J. Cadott, Vincent W. Cappetta, Joseph L. Cella, Christopher J. Crossley, Timothy J. Fabian, Charles J. Henry, III, Christopher J. Kerr, Robert A. King, Gerald J. LaStella, Jr., Robert S. MacFarlane, Jr., James A. Mauncele, Russell R. Moller, Scott R. Mulford, Zachary J. Rhein, Robert J. Urie, Nicholas E. Voorhees, and Gregory S. Zytko, all Seaside Heights Police Department; John A. Bernaski, and Joseph M. DePasquale, Lavallette Police Department; Grace L. Bohn and Kyle W. Kleinow, both Beach Haven Police Department; Anthony R. Carafa, Allenhurst Police Department; Daniel G. Lokerson and Robert K. Sherman, Bay Head Police Department.

Class 31 graduates and their respective Police Departments are: Vincent P. Ariano, Joseph R. Barnicle, Joseph N. Bones, John B. Cain, IV, Jamie L. Cameron, Anthony J. Claps, Shane C. Dengel, Tyler T. DiStefano, Bryan T. Fasano, Tyler J. Fox, Michael J. Gatnarek, Nicholas J. Greenwood, Brett M. Hansen, Travis W. Horton, Jonathan H. Kuligowski, Shane T. Leaming, John F. Lightbody, Mohamed E. Mahmoud, Jack A. Mazellan, Sean P. McCarthy, Jerry Mecca, Francesco A. Metta, Stephen H. Meyer, Nicholas W. Morgan, Stephen A. Pappalardo, Jr., Austin J. Pelka, Michael M. Pereira, Christopher J. Pollina, Timothy J. Poss, Marc R. Povlosky, Vincent F. Reinecke, Scott G. Russell, Michael A. Slininger, David A. Talty, Kevin C. Wagner, Matthew R. Walaszek, Tymur Zavalnyuk and Frank J. Zicha, all Point Pleasant Beach Police Department; Andrew S. Beuschel, Vincent Coniglione, Anthony F. Fumosa, Jr., Allen J. Mantz, III, Joseph E. Pandorf, Anthony J. Pepe, and Matthew T. Salonis, all Seaside Park Police Department; Matthew Compitello, Long Beach Township Police Department.