A graduation ceremony for 22 new police officers marked the completion of five months of extensive training at the Ocean County Police Academy, Lakewood. The ceremony was held Jan. 19 at the Ocean County College Grunin Center for the Arts.

The graduates of the 104th Basic Police Recruit Class were addressed by former Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Rory Wells and Ocean County Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little.

Class Awards winners were Brian C. Taylor, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, James J. Tracey Leadership Award; Derek K. Mayer, Berkeley Township Police Department, Police Training Commission Merit Award; Michael R. Zilavetz, Berkeley Township Police Department; High Academic Award; John J. Boyne, III, Surf City Police Department, High Overall Award; Brian C. Taylor, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, High Physical Fitness Award; Michael A. Conrad, Lakewood Police Department; High Marksmanship Award and Distinguished Expert Perfect Score Award; Tyler J. Bennett, Michael A. Conrad, Leomaxi Dilone, Lakewood Police Department, John J. Boyne, III, Surf City Police Department, Michael R. Schumann, and Brian C. Taylor, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, all received the Perfect Score Award

The graduates and their respective police departments are: Richard J. Barbini, II, Thomas J. DiGiantomasso, New Jersey State Park Police; Tyler J. Bennett, Justin T. Burkhardt, Michael A. Conrad, Leomaxi Dilone, Zachary T. Hatt, Lakewood Police Department; John J. Boyne, III, Surf City Police Department; Robert C. Brown, Carl J. Del Conte, Michael R. Schumann, Brian C. Taylor, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office; Kerri E. Close, Beach Haven Police Department; Mark R. Hentges, Brick Township Police Department; Robert K. Kennedy, Shane C. Leighton, Derek K. Mayer, Christopher M. Walters, Michael R. Zilavetz, Berkeley Township Police Department; Mark C. Maloney, Matthew G. Mergner, Point Pleasant Police Department; William J. Resetar, Toms River Police Department.