MONMOUTH COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATES CORRECTIONS OFFICERS

The Monmouth County Police Academy graduated 28 corrections officers on Tuesday, August 20, from the 27th Basic Course for County Corrections. The corrections officers completed an intensive 14 week curriculum that prepares them for careers as corrections professionals.

“It takes courage, commitment and compassion to have a career in law enforcement,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden, whose agency runs the Monmouth County Police Academy. “Those values will guide these corrections professionals, as they safeguard lives and property and preserve peace in a correctional environment.”

Of the 28 recruits, nine will serve at the Monmouth County Corrections Institution, which is nationally accredited in corrections and correctional healthcare, and, houses up to 1,328 inmates. Twelve will serve at the Union County Department of Corrections and seven will serve at the Essex County Department of Corrections.

Training for the Basic Course for County Corrections Officers is coordinated by Sgt. Byron Jones of the Monmouth County Sheriff Office Corrections Division.

Throughout the 14 weeks, the corrections officers engaged in physical training and drill and learned how to properly use firearms, batons, handcuffing techniques and mechanical restraints. They were also trained in unarmed self-defense and emergency medical response training.
Classroom instruction included topics on law enforcement and ethics, stress management, contraband and evidence processing, characteristics of inmates and drug interdiction and identification.

“This is a proud moment for the graduates and family members and a special one for me,” said Freeholder Lillian Burry, Liaison of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office. “As an elected official I have received many awards, but the one I cherish the most was when I was honored as person of the year by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).”

Special awards at the graduation were presented to Daniel Hammond for Academics, Jordan Andrews for Marksmanship and Physical Training and Dasheek Touchstone for Merit.

To date, 492 corrections officers have completed the Basic Course for County Corrections at the Monmouth County Police Academy.