Police recruits earn badges at academy

Police recruits earn
badges at academy
BY JOYCE BLAY
Staff Writer

LAKEWOOD — Fifty-two police recruits in Ocean County received their badges this past May, but not without shedding a tear — literally.

Ten days before graduation, Lakewood police Capt. Rob Lawson gave the 82nd Basic Police Recruit Class an in-your-face lesson in the use of pepper spray.

"We want (recruits) to experience the effects of oleoresin capsicum, the active ingredient in pepper spray," Lawson said.

Oleoresin capsicum, or pepper spray, is an organic, biodegradable substance that is safer to use and requires a smaller dosage than chloroacetophenone, or tear gas, Lawson said. Officers were trained how to apply pepper spray and react when sprayed.

"They learn that being hurt or disabled isn’t the end; they have the mental ability to keep on," said Joseph Perna, director of the Ocean County Police Academy. "Some people, if they get shot, will just lay there and die. This all revolves around survival (and having) the right frame of mind. Even disabled, you can survive."

A century ago, the academy was home to the Rockefellers. It is in a converted carriage house amid the stately trees and manicured lawns of the former estate. Despite the recreational nature of its surroundings, the academy has upheld a tradition of rigorous training as well as academic excellence in preparing men and women for a career in law enforcement.

"We feel we have a challenging program, both physically and mentally," Perna said. "We also do in-service training in homeland security, domestic violence, interrogation, interviewing and recovery of skeletal remains. Anything that we feel is needed.

"Our objective is to keep our Ocean County (police) departments current on trends and needs," he continued.

Perna attributed the success of the academy to the Ocean County Board of Freeholders, which funds the program, and to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, which oversees the school and maintains its high standards.

The course is free to Ocean County police recruits, but admission is limited according to available space. There is a fall and spring semester. Those recruits who do not meet the physical and academic demands of the program are not able to become officers.

In 1961, 14 recruits were graduated from the academy’s first six-week course.

In May, after 22 weeks of demanding physical and academic discipline, 52 graduates received badges from their municipality’s chief of police or public safety director. Sixty-three recruits signed up, but 11 dropped out.

The comprehensive curriculum includes courses in physical fitness and health; military etiquette; criminal law; juvenile law; arrest, search, seizure and evidence; motor vehicle law; the use of firearms, and martial arts.

On the day of the pepper spray demonstration, the recruits were assembled in an exercise room for some last-minute instructions before going outdoors to be sprayed. Lakewood Patrolman Brian Pugliese, who also trains recruits in the use of firearms, discussed how the lesson would be conducted.

"The (recruits) have to face the captain and be sprayed," Pugliese said. "Their reactions will be varied. It’s a pepper spray, so it does burn. All classes are videotaped. We can record their reactions in the event someone complains in the field."

According to Lawson, most peo­ple sprayed with oleoresin cap­sicum recover within 15 minutes to a half hour, although some people are not affected at all. Lawson said people with fair complexions were more susceptible to the effects of pepper spray, particularly on a sunny day.

As classmates and instructors moved outside, a phalanx of re­cruits were positioned to hold up punching bags several feet from the start position. Each recruit was sprayed in the face with oleoresin capsicum, and then told to run in the direction of the recruits holding the punching bags. Recruits were expected to hit each of the bags, despite being blinded by pepper spray.

Ray Przewoznik, Lakewood’s traffic and safety officer who as­sisted Lawson, told the recruits he knew they were feeling anxious, but offered them encouragement.

"If you’ve got a heart like a lion, you’re going to bang these bags, then go for the water" to wash the spray out of your eyes, mouth and nose, he said.

After facing the camera and stating his name, the first recruit moved to the starting position. Lawson took out the pepper spray and released it into the young man’s face.

Blinking his eyes in obvious pain, the man’s face began to red­den. Despite the sting of the spray, he propelled himself at the punch­ing bag, slamming his fist into it again and again. After several sec­onds, he moved over to two other bags and pummeled those as well.

"Good job!" Lawson exclaimed, as the recruit staggered over to a pail of water beneath a nearby tree to wash his face.

As the last recruit completed the task, Lawson asked the class in jest, "Anybody want to go a second time?"

"No, sir!" one man said instinc­tively.

Despite their reluctance to re­peat the exercise, recruits said they were eager to assume regular po­lice duties — including the danger that goes with the job.

"I wanted this career (since I was) a child," said Michael Ruiz, 34, Lakewood. "It’s not given to you. You walk out of here earning the right to be a police officer."

Jason T. Pederson, 27, of Lakewood, said the opportunity to become a police officer was worth the rigors of the academy.

When asked which course he had most enjoyed at the academy, George Vidalis, 36, of Jackson, looked at Lawson, smiled and said, "This one." Both men laughed.

Later that month, the 82nd class was graduated to the applause of family, friends and academy and police department personnel. Among the 52 graduates were Pederson, Ruiz, Michael P. DelValle, Felix E. Rivera and Obdulio Serrano Jr., all of Lakewood; Vidalis, Donald G. Lasko, Jr., Craig A. Lindenberg and James R. Reynolds III of Jackson, and Arnaldo Lopez Jr., of Brick.

Rivera received awards for high marksmanship, scoring a perfect 100, and for distinguished expert, a perfect score. Serrano and Vidalis were cited for attaining a perfect score in one or more of the three qualifying firearms rounds.

Lawson is also a firearms in­structor at the academy.

Perna, Chief Instructor Charles Dishon and Dover Township Police Chief Michael G. Mastronardy, head of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, ad­dressed the newly minted officers.

Mastronardy told the men and women seated before him that it was within their power to make a difference in the lives of those with whom they interact.

Perna praised the graduates and their accomplishments.

"You’ve done a lot of hard work and you’ve proven yourselves to be worthy," he said.

Dishon encouraged the class members to use what they had learned, but to always remember the true definition of success.

"Your success will be judged … by the number of lives you touch," he said. "Good luck, Class 82. God bless each and every one of you. Be careful out there."