The Senate Labor Committee meeting attracted the presence of PBA
members who wanted to hear testimony about the sick leave bill being
discussed.
Kucker led more than a dozen members to PBA Day, initially
to help them understand that being five minutes from the State
House, they can get familiar with making more than an annu-
al visit and constantly remind lawmakers that the PBA is always
paying attention. From his perspective, it seems, the ongoing
PBA political action has caught the attention of lawmakers and
members now have the opportunity to further the cause.
“The bottom line is that we’re trying to get guys involved in the
process,” Kucker explained. “The PBA needs individual mem-
bers to get down here to make the union stronger. If we want to
make real change, we have to start right here.”
Certainly, PBA members learned during the previous admin-
istration how a vital voice in Trenton is needed and that voice
requires numbers to be heard. But PBA Day 2018 added a more
collegial, relationship-centric feel that had members advocating
for the opportunity to work together with legislators rather than
contentiously.
Being here was the means to the end of relaying the message
about what members need for each town, county and district.
“Human interaction changes a lot of people’s perceptions
of law enforcement,” noted Edison Local 75 President Mike
Schwarz. “I don’t know if you actually sway their decisions today,
but I think you hold them accountable in the future. They know
that we will be heard. Whether it’s election day or here, we will
be heard.”
PBA members take pho-
tos of the board that re-
corded vote in the Gen-
eral Assembly to pass
the PFRS pension bill.
Moments earlier, the bill
also passed in the State
Senate by an overwhelm-
ing margin.
Remains of the day
Actions can speak as loud as words, especially the ones that
culminated PBA Day. At noon, members began making their
way up to the Assembly chamber gallery to watch the vote for
the pension bill. By 1 p.m., there wasn’t even standing room left
in the gallery. Ushers declined entry, and many wound up going
in through a side door to create a shield-laden backdrop to the
session.
If there were any question whether all of this was making an
impact on legislators, well, it did.
“The PBA has done a great job building relationships and
letting people know what their members are doing through
showing real-life experiences,” Gopal confirmed. “They have to
continue to make sure that there’s a personal connection, that
someone knows you’re a police officer who lives in that town and
that they see you. That’s a huge connection.”
Filling the gallery – actually, overfilling the gallery – not to
mention the committee rooms and the halls in Trenton has be-
come the most empathic reminder that PBA members are com-
mitted to the political process. They apparently know the pow-
er of showing up in numbers, and they apparently are growing
more comfortable calling and emailing elected officials to say,
“Hey, can I come in and meet with you?”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 36
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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