Submitted by NJ State Police
LINCROFT, NJ – The New Jersey State Police have graduated their latest class of state troopers to join the department in a ceremony held in Lincroft.
On Friday, New Jersey Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, and Colonel Patrick J. Callahan presented badges to New Jersey’s newest state troopers during the graduation ceremony at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J.
“I am honored to address the 163rd New Jersey State Trooper graduating class and congratulate them on this momentous accomplishment. Today, they join the many men and women who have exemplified the State Police’s three defining words – honor, duty, and fidelity – for over 100 years,” said Governor Murphy. “I look forward to witnessing the great things this group will do while protecting and serving those in our state.”
“Congratulations to the 163rd class as they fulfill their duties and responsibilities to protect and serve the people of New Jersey,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver. “These 163 recruits have exhibited great determination and strength by graduating from one of the most rigorous training programs in the country to become a New Jersey State Trooper. I wish them the very best in their service.”
“Every day across our State New Jersey Troopers put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and in graduating today the 163rd Academy class has answered a noble calling: to serve and protect the public,” said Acting AG Platkin. “These graduates will help ensure New Jersey has dedicated and incredibly well-trained law enforcement, so our State Police are best equipped for their role in confronting virtually every challenge we face in the Garden State.”
“The men and women of the 163rd Class began as recruits and today embark on their careers as New Jersy State Troopers. Now that their training is complete, they will face a multitude of challenges as they are tasked with serving and protecting the citizens of this great state,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “I am confident that the graduates are not only prepared for these challenges they will encounter because of their rigorous training they have received, but they will serve as role models to all future troopers while leading by example and upholding our core values of Honor, Duty, and Fidelity.”
Platkin and Callahan issued the following statement on the day:
The 163rd New Jersey State Police Class graduated 156 men and 7 women. Of this graduating class, 131 have college degrees, 29 are prior military, and 25 have prior law enforcement experience. Among the class, 59 were college athletes, 12 were firefighters, 9 were emergency medical technicians, and 2 were professional athletes.
The class completed 20 weeks of strenuous physical and academic training consisting of classroom lessons and practical training scenarios. The recruits also participated in role-playing exercises such as motor vehicle stops and domestic violence situations. In the area of cultural diversity, the class received detailed instruction from community and cultural organizations.
The life of a recruit is challenging in many ways. The New Jersey State Police Training Academy is one of the few residential academies in the nation. Recruits report to the academy before dawn on Monday morning, and they do not return home until dismissal on Friday evening. For multiple weeks during the training, the recruits of the 163rd Class were at the academy for seven days a week and did not return home on Friday evenings.
The newly graduated troopers have been assigned to stations throughout the state, and over the next few months, they will begin their careers under the watchful eye of their Trooper-Coaches and immediate supervisors.