Published in the Times Beacon Newspapers 2/03/05 Shadow Day Rotary sponsored career day event provides job choices By JESSICA STENSTROM Staff Writer LACEY -- This year Feb. 2 was not just about whether Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter; it was a day that allowed a group of Lacey Township students to perform their own shadowing experience.   Times-Beacon photo by Ann Marie Coen Pam Reimer,15, a sophomore gets to try on some of Waretown's SWAT team equipment with the help of Cpl. Adam Mogul. Vocational and Career Guidance Counselor Fred Moramarca said there were about 18 students who participated in the 2005 Groundhog Job Shadow Day and program sponsored by the Forked River Rotary Club each year. Ocean Township Police Chief Kenneth Flatt, also a Rotary Club member, has organized the event for the past four years. He said the event gives students a chance to explore many different vocational careers that would not be possible in the high school setting. "A lot of the students are really not sure what they want to do and the day gives them a chance to explore some of their options," Flatt said. Flatt said the career field with the most demand for the shadowing is law enforcement. Six students visited the Lacey Township Police Department and another six visited the department in Ocean Township. Moramarca said there were also two students at Southern Ocean County Hospital for the day, two at Lorton Construction and two with Joseph Kuna, a chiropractor in town. The students visiting the Ocean Township Police Department experienced the shadowing in two parts, the morning mostly informational and then hands-on later in the day. Officers from the police department made presentations explaining the different specialized units in which they participate. Patrolman Matthew Azzarone, also a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer working in Ocean Township schools, explained police work as a way of being to the students. "This is not a job meant for everyone," Azzarone said. "It has to come from your heart. There is a lot to deal with and it wears you down. Some people don't like working like this." He said police are required to work holidays, weekends and rotating shifts, sometimes working 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., but other shifts working 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Azzarone said the students should consider going to college first and then pursuing a law enforcement career after graduating if they are still interested. "If you have a college degree, you have something to fall back on if you end up not liking it (the law enforcement field)," Azzarone said. He said when in school there are three focuses that could assist with entering the law enforcement field: a computer and math focus because of the high-tech crimes taking place, science and forensics, and fluency in a foreign language. "Spanish is always good, but try to learn a different language that will separate you from everyone else," Azzarone said. Azzarone said while the salary is good and he can live comfortably off of it, if someone is pursuing a law enforcement career for money, he or she is in the wrong field. "We'll never make the salary a doctor or lawyer makes. It has to come from inside," Azzarone said. "If it's about money, then this isn't the right job for you." Throughout the morning the different specialized units from the police department made presentations to the participants. Patrolman Steve Mandarine discussed accident investigations. Detective George Thompson discussed criminal investigations. Patrolman Jimmy Kinlin discussed the off-road patrol unit. Patrolwoman Leanne Petracca discussed the bicycle patrol unit. Corporal Adam Mogul discussed the SWAT team. Patrolman Shawn Denning and K-9 Boy demonstrated the aspect of a K-9 unit. One highlight of the morning was Mogul and Thompson breaking into the room unexpectedly, demonstrating a no-knock warrant to the students. Michelle Bibenedetti, 15, a sophomore, said, "The Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) team was interesting." Azzarone, standing in the back of the room during the SWAT team entrance, said he had watched everyone jump from the unexpected entrance. All the students attending the shadow day at the Ocean Township Police Station said they had an interest in pursuing careers in the law enforcement field. Amber Laird, 18, a junior, said, "I want to have a career in law enforcement." The students who participated in the Groundhog Job Shadow Day are chosen at the high school by Moramarca. He said each year the sophomore class completes a survey about jobs in which they are interested and then in conjunction with the Forked River Rotary Club, the students are paired with the appropriate professional to learn more about the career field. Flatt said he participates in the program, hoping to find a candidate for the police department. "I figure that in five or 10 years it might benefit me and I might get a good candidate from students that have completed the job shadowing," Flatt said. The event is run each year in conjunction with Groundhog Day, where legend has it if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter.