TRENTON — One of the State Police commanders transferred after revelations that troopers in March escorted a high-speed caravan of exotic sports cars on some of New Jersey's busiest highways will retire next week.

The State Police Retirement Board on Tuesday approved the June 1 departure of Capt. Michael Cerisano, who had been the deputy commander in charge of the troop overseeing northern New Jersey before being transferred last month.

Cerisano, 53, has been a trooper for 28 years and would have been required to retire by next December because of the division’s mandatory retirement age of 55. Reached by telephone, he declined to comment.

He submitted his retirement paperwork March 30, according to the state Treasury Department, the same day of the most recent escort but before the event was first disclosed by The Star-Ledger on April 22.

Cerisano was transferred days after news broke of the caravan, which state authorities say was escorted without authorization by two troopers assigned to Troop B, which oversees northern New Jersey and is based out of Totowa.

One witness deemed the event "Death Race 2012."

A day later, the troopers involved — Sgt. 1st Class Nadir Nassry and Trooper Joseph Ventrella — were suspended without pay, and a station commander, Lt. Philip Gundlah, was temporarily reassigned pending an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office and State Police.

That investigation, as well as one into a prior high-speed caravan in 2010, are ongoing.

On April 27, the commander of Troop B, Maj. Robert Catullo, was reassigned, as well as Cerisano and a region commander, Capt. Warren Moore, sources told The Star-Ledger.

The State Police said a total of 10 commanders were reassigned "in a re-alignment aimed at the Operations Branch" and in light of ongoing internal investigations.

The division did not say how many of the transfers were related to the high-speed escort scandal, or what role the reassigned troopers might have played.

The retirement board on Tuesday also approved the departures of Maj. Philip Coyne, the commander in charge of the Regional Operations Intelligence Center Task Force; Acting Maj. Chad Cuneo, in charge of human resources; Maj. Dennis McNulty, in charge of the emergency management section; and George Sabol, in charge Troop A, which oversees operations in southern New Jersey.

And in March, the board approved the retirement of Maj. Joseph Hines, who had been in charge of field operations. Taken together, the five high-ranking retirements represent a quarter of State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes’ command staff.

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The departure’s come as the division’s numbers continue to dwindle. Many troopers who joined the force in a hiring boom a quarter of a century ago are reaching retirement age and leaving.

Also, a State Police class intended to replenish the ranks was put on hold in 2010 because of tough budget times, making the most recent group of recruits the first to graduate in two years.

Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed budget for next fiscal year includes $3.3 million for the first of two new recruit classes planned for 2013, which are each expected to produce 115 new troopers.

Related coverage:

• N.J.'s top law enforcement officials tell State Police they will not let misconduct compromise public safety

• State Police boss: Responsibility for high-speed caravan deemed 'Death Race 2012' rests with local command

• Second N.J. trooper suspended amid high-speed caravan investigation

• Video: N.J. State Police lead luxury cars down Parkway at high speeds