Vice chairman of the New Jersey State Parole Board and a former Mercer County sheriff Samuel Plumeri Jr speaks to the gathering at the Mercer Police Academy’s graduation exercises at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre Jan. 6, 2014.
The 10th basic class of police officers graduated from the Mercer Police Academy Jan. 6.
An audience of more than 350 family members, friends and members of a number of law enforcement agencies witnessed the class of 39 cadets receive graduation certificates to officially make them police officers.
The graduates endured 22 weeks of training at the academy in all aspects of law enforcement and are now set to in many different police departments within Mercer County and elsewhere.
During training, the class studied in disciplines such as use of force, firearms, vehicle pursuit, hostage negotiation, advanced crime scene processing and domestic violence prevention, among others.
Graduates chose Christopher Miranda of Perth Amboy as class speaker.
The cadets chose James Steimle of Hamilton for a merit award from the N.J. Police Training Commission as the best all-around graduate. Additionally, he received the firearms qualification award and the emergency vehicle operations award.
Michael Bernhardt of Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and Jordan Kostoplis of Hamilton Township Police Department, joined also received the firearms qualification award.
Aneudy Alfonso of Perth Amboy received the physical training award.
The following are Mercer Police Academy graduates.
Perth Amboy residents Aneudy A. Alfonso, Jorge Arocho, Juan Correa Jr., Christopher J. Miranda, Steven Morillo-Collado, Wilson M. Tavarez and Mathew W. Vazquez are set to serve the Perth Amboy Police Department.
Ewing resident Kenneth E. Vagnozzi, Hamilton residents Michael W. Bernhardt, Nicholas R. Botteri, Gary J. Mattia Jr., Conrade Nyekan, Marek A. Poplawski, Leigh Thatcher-Johnson and Jason M. Young, Hightstown resident Mario P. Lanzetta, Pennington resident Steven G. Niederer, Robbinsville resident Sean F. Napierkowski and Trenton resident Carmen G. Cruz are set to serve the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
Hamilton residents Nicholas A. Gordon, Christopher M. Harhay, Justin L. Henson, Jordan D. Kostoplis, Brian T. Mandelko, Richard S. Piotrowski, III, Robert C. Voorhees and David J. Warrick Jr. are set to serve the Hamilton Township Police Department.
Hamilton residents Scott E. Bucca and Christopher W. Magee-Vanderveen are set to serve the South Brunswick Police Department.
Hamilton resident Jonathan Abraham is set to serve the Fieldsboro Police Department.
Sayreville resident Alvah M. Cox III is set to serve Raritan Township Police Department.
West Windor resident Colin J. DeVincenzo is set to serve Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office.
Bordentown resident Jessica Meyer is set to serve Bordentown Township Police Department.
Burlington resident Samuel E. Padro is set to serve Burlington Township Police Department.
Hamilton resident James C. Steimle is set to serve Lawrence Township Police Department.
Graduates also include Terry L. Woolverton Jr. of Ewing, Allen W. Wurpel of Southampton, Paul J. Steffanelli of Stockton and Anthony Pinizzotto Jr. of New Brunswick.
