More than 190 New Troopers Graduate from Across New York State
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today congratulates the 192 new members of the State Police at the 205th session graduation ceremony from the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy.
“These new Troopers have dedicated themselves to protecting the people of New York State,” Governor Cuomo said. “I commend these men and women for their hard work over the last 26 weeks and wish them luck as they start their careers and continue the fine tradition of the New York State Police. Our state is safer with these members joining the ranks and enforcing our laws.”
“Six months ago these outstanding men and women answered the call to serve, and after the rigors of training they are ready to join one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the world,” said Lieutenant Governor Hochul, who attended the graduation ceremony. “This class chose the motto ‘100 Years We Thrive, We are the 205’ in recognition of the 100 years that the NY State Police have been serving the citizens of this state. I’m honored to take part in today’s commencement, and wish all the graduates the very best as they enter this noble profession.”
Superintendent George P. Beach II said, “Today marks another significant moment in the proud 100 year history of the New York State Police. The graduation ceremony is one of our finest traditions and introduces a new generation of highly trained men and women, who will serve the citizens of the State of New York with honor and integrity. I am proud to welcome these graduates to our ranks.”
As a special incentive for all students attending the State Police Academy Basic School, the Superintendent sponsors the awarding of a firearm for the attainment of the highest level of academic performance during Academy training.
The winner of the “Academic Performance Award” is Trooper Meghan K. Lohman, a 31-year-old resident of Delmar, New York. She is a graduate of Siena College with a Bachelor degree in history. Prior to joining the New York State Police, she was a paralegal with a local law firm. Throughout the Academy training program, she achieved an outstanding overall academic average of 98.1%. She will be assigned to Troop G.
Firearms Proficiency Award
The New York State Trooper Foundation has sponsored the awarding of a firearm for the attainment of the highest level of performance in all phases of firearms training.
The winner of the Superintendent’s Firearms Proficiency Award is Trooper Matthew S. Ross age 26, of Hamburg, New York. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he served in the United States Marine Corp for 4 years. During firearms training, he fired an average score of 250 out of a possible 250. He will be assigned to Troop F.
Investigator Joseph T. Aversa Physical Fitness Award
The New York State Police Investigators Association has sponsored the awarding of a firearm for the attainment of the highest degree of physical fitness during the Physical Training Program at the Academy. This award will be presented in memory of deceased Investigator Joseph Aversa. Investigator Aversa made the ultimate sacrifice in New York City on March 5th, 1990, during a narcotics investigation while serving as a Member of the Joint Drug Enforcement Task Force. Investigator Aversa was a six-year State Police veteran who believed that physical conditioning was an integral part of being a Trooper.
The winner of the Joseph T. Aversa Physical Training Award is Trooper Zachary D. Dodge. He is 27 years old and resides in Ogdensburg, New York. Prior to entering the New York State Police Academy, he graduated from Le Moyne College with a Bachelor Degree in Criminology. During the physical agility testing, he achieved the highest score of all 192 Members of the 205th Session, a tribute to his superb physical conditioning. He will be assigned to Troop B.
Student Representative
The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association has sponsored the awarding of a firearm to the Member of the class who is selected by his or her peers to represent them during these exercises. The PBA presents the award in memory of Trooper John J. McKenna IV, who was killed in action in 2006, while serving his country as a Marine in Iraq.
Trooper Joseph A. Turoski has been chosen as the class representative. He is 29 years old and resides in Voorheesville, New York. Prior to joining the New York State Police, he was a police officer for four years with the Town of Guilderland Police Department and is a certified drug recognition expert. He will be assigned to Troop F.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Hall in Albany where the new troopers marched into the convention center in a procession lead by the New York State Police Pipe and Drum band. The National Anthem was performed by Trooper Elizabeth Fallon. The ceremony included a video presentation of the training received by all members of the 205th Basic School Session.
Video sound bites with the members listed directly below are available on the New York State Police YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/nyspolice.
Trooper Joseph Turoski – Voorheesville
Trooper Turoski will be assigned to Troop F.
Trooper Megan Lohman – Delmar
Trooper Lohman will be assigned to Troop G.
Trooper Zachary Dodge – Ogdensburg
Trooper Dodge will be assigned to Troop B.
Trooper Matthew Ross – Hamburg
Trooper Ross will be assigned to Troop F.
Trooper Arron Erickson – Jamestown
Trooper Erickson will be assigned to Troop C.
Trooper Bryan Harris – Watertown
Trooper Harris will be assigned to Troop B.
Trooper Shavon Whyte – Copiague
Trooper Whyte will be assigned to Troop NYC.
Trooper Diana Paredes – Mt. Vernon
Trooper Paredes will be assigned to Troop K.
Trooper Brandon Zakris – New York Mills
Trooper Zakris will be assigned to Troop D.
Trooper Krystie Laurey – Horseheads
Trooper Laurey will be assigned to Troop F.
Trooper Dulani Benjamin-Jones – Bronx
Trooper Benjamin-Jones will be assigned to Troop NYC.
Trooper Paul Zandt – Deposit
Trooper Zandt will be assigned to Troop F.
Trooper Erin Lawnizak – Middletown
Trooper Lawnizak will be assigned to Troop F.
The new troopers will report for field duty on May 12, 2017. For the following 10 weeks the new troopers will be evaluated under a field-training program supervised by senior Field Training Officers.
Below is a list of field training Troop assignments where graduates will begin field duty supervised by senior training officers:
Troop B – Plattsburgh
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Benjamin S. Alibozek | Hoosick Falls |
| Ross M. Batty | Ballston Lake |
| Andrew P. Baxter | Ogdensburg |
| Andrew D. Beane | Malone |
| Ryan T. Buckley | West Chazy |
| Dylan D. Caitlin | Central Square |
| Cody R. Clary | Massena |
| Anthony E. Cumm | Cadyville |
| Zachary D. Dodge | Ogdensburg |
| Mark W. Dragoon | Chazy |
| Joseph P. Egan | Malone |
| Jacob E. Halsey | Sandy Creek |
| Bryan M. Harris | Watertown |
| Justin R. Hirschey | Castorland |
| David M. Hovendon | Copenhagen |
| Morgan-Taylor E. Kiernan | Watertown |
| Brandon R. Kryszak | Lancaster |
| Kevin R. Kurz | Morrisonville |
| Joseph G. Lapointe | Ticonderoga |
| Robert L. Latimer | Canton |
| Caleb J. Longley | Pulaski |
| David J. Lyons | Hudson |
| Lacey E. Malbeuf | Harrisville |
| Andrew V. Manabat | Plattsburgh |
| Christopher L. Markwica | Westport |
| Emily K. Marsh | Charlotteville |
| Joshua B. Mossop | West Seneca |
| Matthew J. Pietrzykowski | East Bethany |
| Madeline N. Santulli | Delanson |
| Ryan A. Suave | North Bangor |
| Justin M. Seymour | Gouverneur |
| Nathan B. Sheen | Gouverneur |
| Andrew W. Stone | Norwood |
| Andre S. Williams | Dannemora |
Troop C – Sidney
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Robert C. Annarino | Rome |
| Christopher D. Aubertine | Camillus |
| Spencer S. Barnes | Niagara Falls |
| Timothy D. Dovi | Cortland |
| Matthew J. Mazur Jr. | Marcy |
| Travis L. Carney | Newport |
| Rocky J. Cerretto | Rochester |
| Bronson H. Cole | Rochester |
| Brett J. Colling | Derby |
| Kevin N. Collins | Orchard Park |
| Kurt T. Decker | Wolcott |
| Aaron J. Erickson | Jamestown |
| Sean M. Fox | Hamburg |
| Kevin W. Gabel | Lawtons |
| John A. Johnson | Mount Morris |
| Jeremy J. Karlsen | Churchville |
| Corey R. Knighton | McGraw |
| Thaddeus B. Konfederath | Bliss |
| Gregory E. Langtry | Ballston Lake |
| Andrew W. Lawrence | Cheektowaga |
| Bradley A. Maderer | Alden |
| Michael E. Manley | Keuka Park |
| Benjamin J. Manwaring | Schenectady |
| Andrew M. Mazurek | Williamsville |
| Samuel A. Nasso | Caledonia |
| Gary M. Novotny | Williamsville |
| Sean T. O’Brien II | Hamburg |
| Brian A. Radley | Stratford |
| Jesse D. Konstabel | Cheektowaga |
| Michael M. Slawek | Cheektowaga |
| Caroline E. Spencer | Rochester |
| Jennifer Villa | Cheektowaga |
| Mark A. Tipple | Walworth |
| Devin J. Will | Lee Center |
| Jordan R. Zongrone | Utica |
Troop D – Oneida
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Danielle Aurelio-Clark | Lancaster |
| Ryan G. Carpenter | Fulton |
| John P. Caulfield | West Seneca |
| Richard C. Riola | Rochester |
| Brandon S. Zakris | New York Mills |
Troop E – Canandaigua
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Benjamin R. Bebak | West Seneca |
Troop F – Middletown
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Rebecca E. Baksa | East Greenbush |
| Alexander M. Benedict | Chester |
| John R. Nichols | Addison |
| Robert J. Cocuzza | Hopewell Junction |
| Christopher E. Collins | Hopewell Junction |
| Brian M. Corcoran | Glen Spey |
| David E. Faggins-Flores | Scotia |
| Andrew J. Fitch | Alexander |
| John R. Fredrickson | Jamestown |
| James K. Giuliano | Pine Bush |
| Joshua M. Gorr | Hurleyville |
| George J. Hossann | Slate Hill |
| Matthew T. Hughes | Newburgh |
| Jamie R. Kasper | Holmes |
| Richard R. Kempter | Cropseyville |
| Scott L. Kline | Nassau |
| John S. Kolach III | Latham |
| Stephen J. Kuhns | Skaneateles |
| Brittany L. Vogel | Glenmont |
| Krystie M. Laurey | Horseheads |
| Erin M. Lawnizak | Middletown |
| Thomas J. Mancino | East Nassau |
| Frank A. McDonagh | Coeymans |
| Jonelle M. Miller | Windham |
| Mark A. Murray | Albany |
| Joshua J. Nauroth | Gloversville |
| Stephanie L. O’Neil | Selkirk |
| Jessica E. Reichart | Buffalo |
| Kevin J. Knack | Ghent |
| April A. Roberts | Modena |
| Matthew S. Ross | Hamburg |
| Gina M. Sisilli | Highland |
| Michael J. Sleyzak | Bloomingburg |
| Benjamin J. Strickland | Kingston |
| Conor T. Treacy | Watervliet |
| Joseph A. Turoski | Voorheesville |
| Dominic H. Williams Jr. | Sidney |
| Corey M. Wright | Mechanicville |
| Tyler A. Wrobel | West Seneca |
| Paul M. Zandt | Deposit |
| Steven D. Zehnacker | Poughkeepsie |
Troop G – Latham
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Meghan K. Lohman | Delmar |
| T.J. McHugh | Saratoga Springs |
| Joseph T. Moeller | Rock City Falls |
| Ryan A. Mousaw | Highland |
| Edward J. Whitty | Albany |
Troop K – Poughkeepsie
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Brady O. Condlin | Yonkers |
| Jonathan N. Domres | Hamburg |
| Theresa A. Filippini | Poughkeepsie |
| Jaroslaw Kopcza | Yonkers |
| Lukasz Kownacki | Wappingers Falls |
| Amanda H. Lennon | Stone Ridge |
| Sean P. Mallinson | Harrison |
| Michael W. Moore | Germantown |
| Lynell Moran | Amenia |
| Stacey C. Morris | Poughkeepsie |
| Raymond J. Nakelski | Mahopac |
| Diana C. Paredes | Mount Vernon |
| Cory P. Pingiczer | Wappingers Falls |
| Dominick M. Vitale | Farmingdale |
Troop NYC – Manhattan
| Graduate | Hometown |
| Curtis C. Rich | Delmar |
| Rose O. Alvarez | Brooklyn |
| Tyler T. Amodio | Central Islip |
| Ramsey Arellano | Port Chester |
| Skylar L. Aviza | Schenectady |
| Bryan Baroniunas | Massapequa Park |
| Ronny M. Bautista | Bronx |
| Dulani A. Benjamin-Jones | Bronx |
| Rafael C. Bou | Carmel |
| Sarah E. Brown | Onchiota |
| Jonathan Calderon | Brentwood |
| Joseph M. Cavanaugh | Troy |
| Calixto J. Cornier | Staten Island |
| Steve M. Cox | Bronx |
| Alexander D. Dalfonso | Cicero |
| James P. Demartino | Oceanside |
| Martin T. Derkovitz | Buffalo |
| Michael W. Drew | Yonkers |
| Kenneth C. Edenhofer | Hilton |
| Jessica J. Eggleston | Buffalo |
| Jason N. Estrada | Corona |
| Brett K. Feind | Cheektowaga |
| Sean M. Griffin | Goshen |
| Nathan R. Hoak | Tonawanda |
| Matthew M. Hohler | Rochester |
| Michael T. Horan | Schenectady |
| William M. Iachetta | Schenectady |
| Michael S. Johnson | Maybrook |
| Kevin G. McMahon | Mattituck |
| Meghan T. McMahon | Lindenhurst |
| Deanna C. Miller | Seaford |
| Juan G. Orejuela | Poughkeepsie |
| Sergey L. Pisarenko | Glenmont |
| Mauro Palomba | Hopewell Junction |
| Devin B. Prendergast | Eagle Bridge |
| Molly E. Palizay | Akron |
| Karina Reyes | Bronx |
| John M. Rinaldi | Clifton Park |
| Brandon T. Robinson | Buffalo |
| Sean P. Rohde | Poughkeepsie |
| Chelsea L. Saxe | Lancaster |
| Robert J. Schaeffer | Island Park |
| Peter J. Scibelli | Tivoli |
| George S. Spiconardi | Armonk |
| Nathan E. Stark | South Otselic |
| Kenneth T. Stroman | Albany |
| Margareth Tovar | Bay Shore |
| Rhania Traore | Brooklyn |
| Peter Viti | Hopewell Junction |
| Johanna L. Wielgosz | Elma |
| Brendan L. Whelan | Middletown |
| Jermaine A. Whyte | Rosedale |
| Schashuna D. Whyte | Copiague |
| Shavon A. Whyte | Copiague |
| Kamil A. Wojdakowski | Staten Island |
| Frederick S. Wright | Mahopac |
| Bradford J. Yeomans | Cheektowaga |
