ICQ -- 2001/No. 3

Meet Tom Cavallo ’86, the singing state trooper of New Jersey

by Jay Wrolstad

Cavallo "They know all about recruits at boot camp; they have done complete background checks on you, and they want to get you," remembers New Jersey state trooper Tom Cavallo ’86. "I knew they would find out I was a singer, and I wanted to be ready if they made me sing, which I knew they would."

What began as a "hazing" prank during his grueling, 28-week paramilitary-style basic training at the state police academy seven years ago has turned into a second career of sorts for Cavallo, who turned the tables on his tormentors by earning a reputation as the "singing state trooper."

At Ithaca Cavallo majored in music with an outside field (business). After graduating, the Long Island native returned downstate, where he landed a job with NBC in network program operations. He then became a buyer for Bloomingdale’s, which is where he met his future wife, Kathleen. Her brother, a New Jersey trooper, convinced Cavallo to take the state police exam. "I thought about it and knew that the job offered some stability --- and I’d always wanted to help people," Cavallo says. So he took and passed the exam and began training.

He realized his superiors in the academy would probably focus on his vocal abilities when it came his time for hazing --- a discipline designed to test the trainees’ mettle. What they couldn’t have known was that he loved to sing --- and that his IC training had been quite intensive. So he began practicing the national anthem on the sly, making sure he could hit all the high and low notes and that he had the lyrics down pat. His preparation paid off. "Sure enough, during a training exercise one day an instructor called me out and ordered me to sing," he recalls. "I was ready for them. I did the national anthem for the officers and the class, and when I was finished the sergeant made everyone stand at attention and salute. They pretty much left me alone after that."

Cavallo performed the national anthem --- a cappella --- at his own graduation from the New Jersey State Police Academy at Sea Girt. He hasn’t missed a graduation ceremony since. By word of mouth (no pun intended), his reputation as a singer has spread to the point where he performs, gratis, for law enforcement units throughout New Jersey. In addition to the academy graduations, his gigs include singing for the Union County, New Jersey, 200 Club, which honors firefighters and police officers cited for bravery; the Blue Mass memorial service for Camden County’s fallen officers; and the New Jersey narcotics officers’ annual gathering in Atlantic City. He has even traveled to Connecticut to sing for the police in that state.

To perform in front of a crowd, a person must demonstrate grace under pressure, says Cavallo, noting that his experience singing at Ithaca as a member of the madrigal singers, the vocal jazz ensemble, and the touring choir prepared him well for his turns in the spotlight.

Cavallo’s repertoire features sentimental favorites such as "Amazing Grace," "God Bless America," and the national anthem, although he says he’s prepared to learn any song that’s requested. "I do it because I enjoy it and because I like to promote the troopers. It’s good PR for the state police," he says. His supervisors concur and usually allow Cavallo to take limited time away from his patrols to entertain the troops. He enjoys the official part of his work --- as a general road-duty officer --- as well, moving from station to station and patrolling roadways ranging from the heavily traveled turnpike to rural routes where troopers are the primary law enforcement agents.

And no, he does not sing in the shower. And in case you were wondering (he says almost everyone asks), he does not deliver a song with every citation. Should his fame spread, though, maybe he’ll change that tune.


	Meet Tom Cavallo ’86, the singing state trooper of New Jersey by Jay Wrolstad "They know all about recruits at boot camp; they have done complete background checks on you, and they want to get you," remembers New Jersey state trooper Tom Cavallo ’86. "I knew they would find out I was a singer, and I wanted to be ready if they made me sing, which I knew they would." What began as a "hazing" prank during his grueling, 28-week paramilitary-style basic training at the state police academy seven years ago has turned into a second career of sorts for Cavallo, who turned the tables on his tormentors by earning a reputation as the "singing state trooper." At Ithaca Cavallo majored in music with an outside field (business). After graduating, the Long Island native returned downstate, where he landed a job with NBC in network program operations. He then became a buyer for Bloomingdale’s, which is where he met his future wife, Kathleen. Her brother, a New Jersey trooper, convinced Cavallo to take the state police exam. "I thought about it and knew that the job offered some stability --- and I’d always wanted to help people," Cavallo says. So he took and passed the exam and began training. He realized his superiors in the academy would probably focus on his vocal abilities when it came his time for hazing --- a discipline designed to test the trainees’ mettle. What they couldn’t have known was that he loved to sing --- and that his IC training had been quite intensive. So he began practicing the national anthem on the sly, making sure he could hit all the high and low notes and that he had the lyrics down pat. His preparation paid off. "Sure enough, during a training exercise one day an instructor called me out and ordered me to sing," he recalls. "I was ready for them. I did the national anthem for the officers and the class, and when I was finished the sergeant made everyone stand at attention and salute. They pretty much left me alone after that." Cavallo performed the national anthem --- a cappella --- at his own graduation from the New Jersey State Police Academy at Sea Girt. He hasn’t missed a graduation ceremony since. By word of mouth (no pun intended), his reputation as a singer has spread to the point where he performs, gratis, for law enforcement units throughout New Jersey. In addition to the academy graduations, his gigs include singing for the Union County, New Jersey, 200 Club, which honors firefighters and police officers cited for bravery; the Blue Mass memorial service for Camden County’s fallen officers; and the New Jersey narcotics officers’ annual gathering in Atlantic City. He has even traveled to Connecticut to sing for the police in that state. To perform in front of a crowd, a person must demonstrate grace under pressure, says Cavallo, noting that his experience singing at Ithaca as a member of the madrigal singers, the vocal jazz ensemble, and the touring choir prepared him well for his turns in the spotlight. Cavallo’s repertoire features sentimental favorites such as "Amazing Grace," "God Bless America," and the national anthem, although he says he’s prepared to learn any song that’s requested. "I do it because I enjoy it and because I like to promote the troopers. It’s good PR for the state police," he says. His supervisors concur and usually allow Cavallo to take limited time away from his patrols to entertain the troops. He enjoys the official part of his work --- as a general road-duty officer --- as well, moving from station to station and patrolling roadways ranging from the heavily traveled turnpike to rural routes where troopers are the primary law enforcement agents. And no, he does not sing in the shower. And in case you were wondering (he says almost everyone asks), he does not deliver a song with every citation. Should his fame spread, though, maybe he’ll change that tune.
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