By Craig Anderson

DOVER — A graduation ceremony for the 99th Delaware State Police and 95th Municipal Recruit Class was held March 9 at Dover High School.

The event commemorated the successful completion of the Delaware State Police Training Academy by 13 state troopers and six municipal officers, who represented the Bethany Beach Police Department, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Parks and Recreation, the University of Delaware Police Department, the Middletown Police Department and the Smyrna Police Department, a news release said.

Addressing the class were Gov. John Carney, Attorney General Kathy Jennings, Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen Jr. and Col. Melissa Zebley, the superintendent of the state police.

Bethany Beach Officer Gregory Contorno served as class speaker.

Class awards included:

• Trooper Jai’Rae Hammond — Physical Fitness Award, given to the recruit who demonstrated excellence in physical fitness during training.
• Trooper Mitchell Leslie and Officer Samuel Jester (University of Delaware) — Outstanding Proficiency in Police Firearms Awards, given to recruits who demonstrated the highest proficiencies in marksmanship and dedication while training in shooting.
• Officer Lori Ferguson (Parks and Recreation) — DSP Law Enforcement Core Values Award, given to the recruit who most exemplified the spirit of the academy’s core values of honor, integrity, courage, loyalty, attitude, discipline and service.
• Trooper Colby Collins — Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security Award, given to the recruit whose abilities and actions demonstrated exemplary commitment toward teamwork and service.
• Officer Patrick Henry (Parks and Recreation) — Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police Award, given to the municipal recruit who demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership in the academy.
• Trooper Coleena Markovich — Governor’s Outstanding Recruit Trooper Award, given to the state police recruit who demonstrated outstanding and overall leadership in the academy.

Delaware State Police graduates included:

• Trooper Colby Collins
• Trooper Alicia Evans
• Trooper Jai’Rae Hammond
• Trooper Ryan Jones
• Trooper Mitchell Leslie
• Trooper Markie Lewis
• Trooper Coleena Markovich
• Trooper Rene McKinnon
• Trooper Brandon Ruiz
• Trooper Michael Rummel
• Trooper Jose Santos
• Trooper Joseph Shanahan
• Trooper Diana Torres

Municipal graduates included:

• Officer Gregory Contorno — Bethany Beach
• Officer Lori Ferguson — Parks and Recreation
• Officer Patrick Henry — Parks and Recreation
• Officer Samuel Jester — University of Delaware
• Officer Angel Padillo — Middletown
• Officer Joseph Wunsch — Smyrna