A Twin Serving Of Justice: Montclair State Grads To Join D.C. Police Force

Montclair, NJ – Criminals in Washington D.C. may soon be seeing double thanks to a pair of Montclair State University graduates.

The twin law enforcement prospects - Marta and Marija Spajic - graduated from MSU in December, according to the university’s website. Later this month, they plan to travel from New Jersey to train as recruits for the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

Born in Montenegro, Marta and Marija spent their childhood in Serbia, coming to the United States when they were 16-years-old. They became naturalized U.S. citizens in December of 2014, a day that they consider to be among the happiest in their lives, MSU reported.

The pair told the university that they preferred sports to Barbie dolls while growing up, and joined a boys’ youth soccer team. The two ended up being scouted by the Serbian women’s national squad – earning black belts in karate in their downtime - until their mother, Darinka, decided to move to the United States for better economic opportunities.

After arriving in Haledon, NJ, Darinka worked three jobs until she was able to bring her daughters to the U.S. six months later. The move was a bittersweet split, though, as the twins left their father and brother behind in Serbia.

Spending their young adult lives in an utterly new and different setting, the Spajics – who didn’t speak English despite knowing multiple other languages – relied on their strong sibling bonds during those first difficult days.

For example, the two refused to let high school administrators place them in separate ESL classes, continuing to register for the same courses even throughout their college careers.

Continuing their athletic exploits - Marta broke high school records in the javelin throw and Marija in the shot put and discus – the pair moved on to Montclair State University to earn degrees in justice studies and get hands-on intern experience at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

WHY WASHINGTON?

With a desire to serve and “give back to the community,” the Spajics said that the chance to protect the nation’s capital was important to them.

But it may be that Washington D.C. is the perfect place for the twins to start their law enforcement careers. The two have expressed interest in attending law school and pursuing work as federal prosecutors.

“We are living the American Dream,” the pair told university administrators. “America is the greatest nation in the world. It opens its arms to everyone.”

Photo courtesy of Gina Eide/Montclair State University

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