46 Officers Graduate Essex County Police Academy

The Essex County College Police Academy (ECCPA) in Cedar Grove graduated 46 law enforcement recruits this month.

On Tuesday, March 12, 40 recruits graduated the Basic Police Officers program, a grueling 22-week course, according to the academy.

The following Friday, on March 15, six men and women graduated from the eight-week Basic Juvenile Detention Officers Class.

“We had some doubts when we started the training,” said New Juvenile Detention Officer Desiree Lewis. “Those doubts quickly faded as we remembered why we were here. We are ready to provide discipline for those I need and be role models; we know to do the right thing.”

Daniel Niekrasz of the Bloomfield Police Department received the Merit Award; Jamie Rivera, headed to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, earned the Physical Fitness Award, while Richard Alberto, also of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, earned the Firearms Award.

At the Juvenile Detention Officers ceremony, Umberto Turelli, of the Essex County Detention Center, earned the Physical Fitness Award.

“The demanding curriculum for the police recruits included training in community policing, use of firearms, extensive physical conditioning, criminal law, first responder training, emergency vehicle operations and defensive tactics,” officials said.

They also performed a community service project, connecting with Joi’s Angels of East Orange where they distributed various foods to children in need.

“We’re extremely proud of the graduates who endured the rigorous weeks of training, and we wish them and their families all the best for years to come,” said ECCPA Director Rocco Miscia.

Graduating officers included:

RECRUIT # 

NAMES

DEPARTMENT

Hometowns

1

Agosta, Michael

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

2

Alberto, Richard

EC Sheriff's Office

Newark, NJ

3

Amato, Cosmo

Weehawken PD

Weehawken, NJ

4

Baldassano, Daniel

Middlesex Sheriff's Office

Fords, NJ

5

Bermudez, Barbara

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

6

Bohorquez, Ivan

Bloomfield PD

Bloomfield, NJ

7

Carhuayo, Jose

EC Sheriff's Office

Newark, NJ

9

Cunningham, Nardia

EC Sheriff's Office

Newark, NJ

10

Devito, Gary

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

11

Doffont, Vincent

Hudson County Sheriff's Office

Union City, NJ

12

Dolaghan, John

Hudson County Sheriff's Office

Harrison, NJ

13

Donatello, James

South Hackensack PD

Rochelle Park, NJ

14

Estevez, Eugenio

Hudson County Sheriff's Office

Union City, NJ

15

Ferrer, Alexander

Hudson County Sheriff's Office

West NY, NJ

16

Ficchi, Joseph

Essex Fells PD

Whippany, NJ

17

Gadomski, Christopher

NJIT PD

Edison, NJ

18

Grayman, Wentworth

EC Sheriff's Office

Newark, NJ

19

Hablitz, Randy

Hudson County Sheriff's Office

Weehawken, NJ

20

Hood, John

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

21

Jones, Amir

EC Sheriff's Office

East Orange, NJ

22

Kuchar, Lauren

EC Sheriff's Office

Riverdale, NJ

23

Lopez, Daniel

Weehawken PD

Weehawken, NJ

24

Maradiaga, Candelario

EC Sheriff's Office

Bloomfield, NJ

26

McKeough, Jesse

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

27

Niekrasz, Daniel

Bloomfield PD

Bloomfield, NJ

28

Peacock, Shawn

Weehawken PD

Weehawken, NJ

29

Pinero, David

Millburn PD

Budd Lake, NJ

30

Piper, Keron

Bloomfield PD

Bloomfield, NJ

31

Povinelli, Michael

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

33

Rivera, Jamie

EC Sheriff's Office

Newark, NJ

34

Rodriguez, Liza

EC Sheriff's Office

Newark, NJ

35

Roman, Jason

Hudson County Sheriff's Office

Union City, NJ

36

Rusticus, Amanda

Montclair State University PD

Mahwah, NJ

37

Sonera, Carlos

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

38

Soto, Kevin

Middlesex Sheriff's Office

Perth Amboy, NJ

39

Tran, Joseph

Belleville PD

Belleville, NJ

40

Valdivia, Anthony

Hudson County Sheriff's Office

North Bergen, NJ

41

Van Liew, William

EC Sheriff's Office

Newark, NJ

42

Yannetti, Gary

South Hackensack PD

South Hackensack, NJ

43

Zanca, Justin

South Hackensack PD

Lake Hiawatha, NJ

Essex County College Police Academy

Basic Juvenile Detention Officer Class 13-1

Recruit #

Recruit Names

Department

Hometowns

2

Lewis, Desiree

Hudson County Detention

Jersey City, NJ

3

Lyle, Vershun

Essex County Detention

Newark, NJ

4

McCollum, Laneeshia

Essex County Detention

Newark, NJ

5

Muse, Saleem

Essex County Detention

Elizabeth, NJ

6

Turelli, Umberto

Essex County Detention

Paramus, NJ

7

Williams, Quadidra

Essex County Detention

Newark, NJ