ATTENDANCE MATTERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27
not feeling the goosebumps and fighting back the tears that
always come with attending Police Week – not to mention the
feeling of honor and commitment that turns into such a feel-
ing of grace – should get on a bike or find some other path and
experience this beyond-bucket-list wonder of which Phillips
says, “As soon as you have been there once, you want to come
back again every year.”
A great wake-up call
And the quietness of everybody there to embrace the fallen.”
Words cannot truly convey what it’s like to attend the events
and tributes at Police Week, including the arrival of the Police
Unity Tour, the Candlelight Vigil and the Memorial. But those
who have been there many times dig deep to find the words
that will motivate every law enforcement officer to attend.
“Appreciation and camaraderie,” suggests Milltown Local
338 member Armando Rosario, who will be pedaling the Unity
Tour for the third time this year, alongside two officers from
Missouri whom he met on last year’s ride.
“Amazing,” proffers Ewing Township Local 111 State Dele-
gate Mike Pellegrino about attending 20 times in the 23 years
he has been on the job.
“Uplifting,” charges Harry Phillips, Executive Director of the
Police Unity Tour.
“Unity,” adds Montuore, who is also the Senior Director of
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
“Worldwide brotherhood,” submits Manchester Township
Local 246 State Delegate Artie Cronk, who has worked the Vigil
detail 11 of the past 12 years.
“Enlightening, pride and some sorrow,” describes Reading-
ton Township Local 317 member Pete Serrone, who has worked
Police Week as a motorcycle officer the past five years.
“It’s impossible not to hear the silence as you walk into the
memorial,” concludes NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan.
President Colligan has advocated at nearly every PBA meet-
ing for the camaraderie, pride, unity and appreciation of at-
tending National Police Week, scheduled this year for May
8-15 in Washington, D.C. If every law enforcement officer is
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ APRIL 2017
To get a sense of why so many law enforcement officers
come to Police Week, stop by Kelly’s Irish Times on F Street just
north of the Memorial. Pellegrino will be there with 90 other
members from Mercer County and officers from around the
world who are compelled to come to Washington, D.C. again
and again by this response:
Understanding.
In a word, there is so much to understand about the profes-
sion, the people who serve and what law enforcement officers
provide every day by attending Police Week.
“It’s about our profession and what we do every day,” Pel-
legrino reasons. “I have been 20 times, at least, and each time I
better understand why we do what we do.”
The profession is filled with defining moments: The first
time you pin on your badge; the first big case; the first time
you get a PBA valor award. Colligan bases his advocacy for at-
tending on one of those seminal moments.
“I remember my first police funeral, and I remember the first
time I walked into the memorial,” he confides.
First and foremost, Police Week promotes two common
goals. One is to remember those officers who gave everything.
The second is to never forget the families of fallen officers who
have continued to make the sacrifice every day since the fate-
ful day. And if there is one mandatory duty for law enforcement
officers, it is attend the Candlelight Vigil in Class A uniforms to
escort survivors and let them know they will always be part of
the worldwide brotherhood.
Police Week also facilitates an understanding of the dichot-
omy that underscores the profession. One moment at the
Memorial or finishing the Unity Tour allows a chance to un-
derstand how honorable the profession is and see cops proud
to be cops. The same moment can be equally humbling, and
feeling the combination can last a lifetime.
“It’s a great wake-up call for a brand-new officer or some-
body who has been on the job for 15 years,” declares Phillips,
who served the West Orange PD and Local 25 for 20-plus years.
“You realize you’re lucky. Every officer should get to feel that.
You almost owe it to your career.”