A recent Manchester Township Police recruit graduated with top honors from the Ocean County Police Academy Basic Class No. 97.
Officer Michael Steffen II, a 2010 graduate of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey who earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and qualified for the Dean’s List, took his oath as a Manchester Township Police Officer on Sept. 9, 2013. He entered the Ocean County Police Academy a day later, beginning a challenging training program that concluded in February.
Officer Steffen completed his academy training ranked No. 1 overall, with a combined Physical Fitness, Firearms and Classroom score of 98.41. He also earned the highest Physical Fitness section score, 487/500.
“Prior to sending Officer Steffen to the academy, we had high expectations of him,” said Chief Brian Klimakowski. “We asked him to represent Manchester to the best of his ability at the academy and Officer Steffen made us proud.”
A 2006 graduate of Bordentown High School who attended Mercer County College before enrolling at Stockton, Officer Steffen was most recently employed as a Mercer County Park Ranger. He now will undergo the Manchester Township Police’s intense 12-week Field Training Program, which includes studying a 285 page manual and learning basic patrol responsibilities.
Officer Steffen was one of three full time Police Officers to join the Manchester Township Police in September 2013. Also hired at that time were two Class II Special Officers.
PHOTO: Manchester Township Police Officer Michael Steffen II, center, poses with (from left to right) Lt. Robert Dolan, Chief Brian Klimakowski, Lt. Todd Malland and Lt. Vincent Manco after graduating from the Ocean County Police Academy in February.