A new batch of recruits joins the ranks of police departments within Ocean County.

Donned in their ceremonial uniforms, twenty one graduates of the Ocean County Police Academy sat side by side Friday as they became full fledged officers in a ceremony held at Ocean County College.

Prior to receiving their diplomas, the graduates endured a grueling twenty two and half week training program, completing ten examinations as well a meeting all of the physical requirements.

The graduates will be patrol officers in departments in Lakewood, Barnegat, Jackson, Pleasantville, Rutgers University Police, as well as the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.

The valedictorian of Friday’s ceremony, Jillian Marin of Beachwood, is slated to join the Sheriff’s Department. She noted while the training was difficult, the camaraderie between recruits helped them get through it.

“You just noticed what you thought you couldn’t do initially you did thirty days into it, and you could do so much more sixty days into it, and it keeps elevating and you can do so much more than you thought you could in the beginning.”

Marin said she has always wanted to be a police officer with the Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s kind of a dream come true,” Marin said with a smile.

While she would never admit it, Marin’s spot as valedictorian puts her in an elite group, and while it’s very possible she could be Ocean County’s next Sheriff someday, it’s an idea she laughs off for the time being.

“I probably want to get into the Crime Scene Unit, as far as Sheriff goes, I don’t know- that’s a hard job.”

The Ocean County Police Academy graduates two classes each year with one additional group of Class II and Corrections Officers.

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