Pair of Manchester Officers Graduate from County Police Academy

Two recent Manchester Police Department hires have completed their police academy training and are one step closer to becoming full-fledged patrolmen. 

Anthony Iliadis and Jason Wiener were hired by the township in August and began training as the 93rd Basic Police Recruit class at the Ocean County Police Academy in September. Having graduated on Feb. 15 during a ceremony at Georgian Court University, they now will complete a twelve week field training and evaluation program before they can patrol Manchester's streets. 

The graduates earned awards during the program, said Lt. Vincent Manco. Iliadis, a 28-year-old Jackson resident, received the 200 Club’s George Haines Award, which is presented to the recruit with the highest overall average in academics, firearms and physical fitness. He was also presented with the academy's High Physical Fitness and High Overall awards.

Wiener, 30, of Old Bridge, was recognized for his marksmanship, having earned a perfect score during firearms qualifications, Manco said.

Before joining Manchester's police force, Iliadis graduated the Virginia Military Institute and served in the U.S. Marine Corps, earning the rank of captain and serving two tours in the Middle East and one tour in Iraq, according to Chief of Police Brian Klimakowski.

Wiener was with the Transportation Security Administration before coming to Manchester. He attended Ramapo College, where he received a psychology degree. He also served as a part-time dispatcher for the Monmouth University Police and volunteer firefighter in Cheesequake, according to Klimakowski.

The two recruits were part of a plan to bolster the number of officers to 64 to stabilize the force following retirements and budget cuts. With the addition of two new hires on Jan. 30, eight officers have been hired over the last five months, Klimakowski said. 

In attendance from Manchester's police department were Klimakowski, Lt. Robert Dolan, Capt. Lisa Parker, Lt. Todd Malland and Lt. Vincent Manco.