32nd Class of Special Law Enforcement Officers Class 2 Officers will graduate May 9 at Middle Township Performing Arts Center at 4 p.m.

COURT HOUSE – May 9 was memorable for 26 officers who were members of the 32nd Basic Course for Special Law Enforcement Officers.

At 4 p.m. in the Middle Township Performing Arts Center, they will become Class 2 police officers, which enables them to carry a weapon. They have trained for the day since Dec. 8, 2007 at the Cape May County Police Academy, Crest Haven.

Class president was Robert Saunders from the Lower Township Police Department. He was elected by members of the class.

Freeholder Ralph Sheets, retired Wildwood police chief, addressed the class along with keynote speaker Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st).

The graduates trained for 20 hours per week. The officers will supplement local police departments in Cape May County during the summer season when crowds increase, and there is need for more officers.

The class started with a physical fitness average of 73.27 percent and finished with a physical fitness average of 92.07 percent.

The officers lost 132 pounds during training and their body fat percentage dropped from 19.04 to 11.2 percent.

Also, the class lost a total of 68.5 inches from their waistlines.

Individual Awards to be presented:

High Academic Award: Officer Matthew O’Loughlin, Wildwood Police, 96.14 percent
Vehicle Operations Award: Officer Justin Miller, Wildwood Police, 28.56 seconds

Physical Fitness Award: Officer Justin Miller, Wildwood Police, 97.9 percent

Firearms Award: Officer Robert Voorhees, North Wildwood Police, 98.3 percent

Directors Award: Officer Thomas Taylor, Stone Harbor Police

Class members:
Berridge, Thomas, Sea Isle City

Morgan, Shane, Sea Isle City

Busch, Jason, Ocean City

O’Loughlin, Matthew, Wildwood

Catarcio, Maurice, Cape May

Palma, Steven, Wildwood

Cole, Jeffrey, North Wildwood

Parker, Bret, Ocean City

Cooper III, Theodore, Sea Isle City

Pastore, Michael, North Wildwood

Dare, Andrew, Ocean City

Perrotta, Jennifer, Avalon

Donnelly, Matthew, Wildwood

Rafter, Matthew, Ocean City

Fiordimondo, Jerome Wildwood

Ross, David, Ocean City

Geortler, Jeffrey, Wildwood

Rowello, Jason, Wildwood Crest

Hackman, Michael, Wildwood

Santiago, Mark, North Wildwood

Higgs Jr., Kerry, Wildwood

Saunders, Robert, Lower Township

Inglis, Daniel, Wildwood Crest

Sexton, Michael, Sea Isle City

Luna, Cesar, North Wildwood

Taylor, Thomas, Stone Harbor

Menz, John, Lower Township

Voorhees, Robert, North Wildwood

Miller, Justin, Wildwood