Police Academy Graduation – The five new police officers who were hired this past July graduated as part of the 99th Class of the Ocean County Police Academy in a ceremony held at Georgian Court University in Lakewood on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. The officers include: Jason S. Lee, Elton L. Copes II, Christopher M. Meyler, Brian G. Holt, and Patrick Q. Watkins. The officers completed the 22 week academy and will now enter the Lacey Township Police Department formal field training program. Each new officer has been assigned a field training officer to continue training for another 12 weeks. Each field training officer will work directly with a new officer to properly integrate the officer into the police department with a focus on relating the academy curriculum to practical application in the field.
The Lacey Township Police Department has experienced the loss of 15 fulltime officers over the past 5 1/2 years due to attrition. The 5 new graduates along with the 5 new officers hired in 2013 are an integral part of an incremental rebuilding process which requires time and considerable training of personnel. All members of the Lacey Township Police Department will be engaging in considerable training throughout 2015 to ensure the residents of Lacey Township are provided the best service possible.
Photograph of officers from the left: Patrick Q. Watkins, Elton L. Copes, Brian G. Holt, Jason S. Lee, and Christopher M. Meyler)