COPS AND GOBBLERS II CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
plained. “Everybody was there because of the goodness of their
hearts.”
Local 24 member Matt Cocuzza came out into the cold with
the same motivation as every officer who hauled turkeys two
at a time like he did: to show that law enforcement officers are
human and to help their fellow man. That’s the creed that keeps
bringing Cocuzza out to help at most of the Local 24 events
during his four years on the job.
“People sometimes forget that we’re people, too, when we are
out doing our jobs,” Cocuzza shared. “We’re not just cops all the
time, and being good to our neighbors and our community is
something we can see they really appreciate.”
And that’s the effort and attitude that feed the PBA grand
plan, as well as hundreds of citizens.
DCH Volkswagen of Freehold
4360 Route 9 South • Freehold NJ 07728
732-810-7900
www.dchvwoffreehold.com
Special pricing for Law Enforcement,
Firefighters, teachers and
their immediate family members.
Contact Retired Essex County Corrections
Sergeant Michael Capadona
Sales Manager
732-810-7919 or email [email protected]
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
32
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ DECEMBER 2017
Pete Stilianessis, president of the State Troops NCO Association, came out
with many of his officers to co-sponsor the giveaway.
“It was nice to see the PBA come through and help us like
this. It shows how many people we can help,” Cocuzza added.
“As I was giving away turkeys, people were saying ‘thank you’
and ‘God bless you.’ Everyone had a smile on their face. They
just knew they were getting something special from the police
department and the PBA.”
Even with all the help law enforcement officers provide, the
gratitude of the community never gets lost. It never gets old. It
was the gold at the end of this turkey giveaway rainbow.
“If I don’t get into the Pearly Gates with all the ‘God bless
yous’ I got, I’m never getting in. I have about a 200 ‘God bless
you’ credit,” Colligan reflected. “That’s a chit I will use when I
get up there, because I will never know what it’s like to struggle
to make ends meet.” d