The President’ s Message
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICEMEN’ S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD
PATRICK COLLIGAN State President
MARC KOVAR Executive Vice-President
Peter Andreyev 1st Vice-President Henry Werner 2nd Vice-President Michael Pellegrino 3rd Vice-President Mark Aurigemma 4th Vice-President Eugene Dello 5th Vice-President Keith Bennett 6th Vice-President Richard Kott 7th Vice-President Frederick Ludd, Sr. 8th Vice-President Luke Sciallo 9th Vice-President Frank P. Cipully 10th Vice-President John Cernek 11th Vice-President Ed Carattini, Jr. 12th Vice-President
Michael Kaniuk Financial Secretary Margaret Hammond Recording Secretary John Monsees Treasurer
Michael Freeman Trustee Bryan Flammia Trustee Robert Ormezzano Trustee Terrance Benson, Sr. Trustee Rodney Furby Trustee Charles Schwartz Trustee Patrick Moran Trustee
Joseph A. Macones Sergeant-at-Arms Sean Plasket Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Tardio Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Heller Sergeant-at-Arms Keith Curry Sergeant-at-Arms Christopher Ricciotti Sergeant-at-Arms John Granahan Sergeant-at-Arms Andrew Pacucci Sergeant-at-Arms Joseph Nigro Sergeant-at-Arms Kelly Polack Sergeant-at-Arms Glenn Pagano Sergeant-at-Arms
Remembering Bobby Smith and matters related to PFRS
Doomsday is coming to a
On Sept. 16, those of us who were at the PBA Convention in Phoenix had the extraordinary honor of hearing Louisiana State Trooper Bobby Smith tell the story of his incredible, and truly unbelievable, journey through life. His story town
had what I know will be near
a profound and lasting impact you
on many of our lives that day.
On Oct. 2, we woke up to the surreal news that Bobby Smith had passed
Patrick away through the night. I can’ t even begin to adequately tell his story on these
Colligan pages. If you weren’ t at the convention and want to learn about his inspiring story please see page 52 or visit www. visionsofcourage. com. We lost another
Dec. 31, 2017 … 11:59 p. m. The ball begins to drop in Times Square … 59 true seconds
hero …
on 58
Oct seconds
. 2, a blind … 57
man seconds
who. Municipal
taught more and
than county
1 million officials
people
throughout. the state of New Jersey are less than one minute away from doomsday.
since
1986 how to see
If you follow New They Jersey are cowering politics, under even a their little desks bit, you, shaking witnessed. What one disaster hell of is a ride coming the in first less days of October. than If you a weren minute’ t happy? The end with of the political 2-percent landscape Arbitration any Cap one! moment in those days, you only had If to you wait believe about 15 what minutes you read for the about score the to change arbitration. The cap score, your changed towns often and. It forced us, for counties many reasons will be, to in endorse financial a gubernatorial ruin if the arbitration candidate cap much isn’ t permanently quicker than adopted. I will.“ explain Municipalities the landscape will be and forced how to quickly reduce it or moved eliminate our services Oct. 18.”“ state Mu-
we
Patrick
had anticipated meeting Colligan. We also
nicipalities have the great alarmed honor
.”“ We of introducing know it’ s essential our endorsed
.” Doomsday candidate scenarios, Ambassador
for sure! So I will ask a question I’ ve asked before: When you have a permanent
Phil Murphy, at that meeting.
2-percent cap on salary increases( let’ s pretend the health care copays don’ t exist Later), will in we the still pages be of attracting this issue the you best will and hear the more brightest about? We the already plan to know split PFRS that answer from the. If you state’ ve as had a stand-alone anything to system do with run hiring as a the public past couple labor management of years, you plan know. I that will answer say that all after too well almost. two years of research, I haven’ t found one single reason not to do it, but many reasons to The do it problem. is that our elected officials and the experts at the League of Municipalities aren The’ t so plan well-informed will have zero. Yes impact, we will on the always other have systems a line. We for will applications still contract; no with doubt the about Division it. Unfortunately to cut checks, and the administer line is much parts shorter of the and plan the candidates so nobody have gets laid become off. Standing a lot more alone complex
, our
. Unfortunately, it’ s a national trend. Some major agencies are experiencing a recruiting crisis plan will be ranked in the top 150 pension plans in the country, and we will still be able to
and we aren’ t so far behind here in New Jersey. Chicago has nearly 1,000 openings. There are
purchase 300 in investments Phoenix and at 200
the in
best Detroit
possible. Have
rates
you ever smoked crack or injected heroin? New Orleans The NJ will State no pension longer let investments that disqualify lost almost you, and 1 percent that agency this past has year 400. openings When compared. College requirements nationally, you for should hiring know are being that dropped took a lot everywhere of work. Quite, including simply here that should in New not Jersey have. happened We have. Standing a national alone recruiting would also crisis give us and greater New Jersey control is to certainly restore COLA seeing much the effect quicker already than. Yet Chapter, what 78 is would the brilliant ever allow answer and from eventually some return of our us politicians to the days? Let of’ s a make single the tier. 2-percent Most importantly, the cap new permanent plan would. But still wait be. The considered politicians a“ public tell us” we plan can, and negotiate we would a higher maintain percent- the
arbitratioage constitutional voluntarily. right Laughable to a pension! Even PBA. Locals with the best relationships with their towns and counties hear the threat of“ arbitration” at some point during contract negotiations. So regardless
The bill of
has the
been ability
drafted to pay
and, regardless
as expected of a
is major
already economic
at 47 pages recovery
. I think and
most regardless
would agree
of a massive that the state surplus isn,’ t let very’ s permanently good at running cap law a pension enforcement. Nothing and will firefighter ever protect salary us increases from a downturn in. the It’ s market all our, fault but. at Put least the we blame can make on us. sure I have their a better hands idea are. out Let’ s of not our just wallets cap. the sala-
at 2 percent ries Also. Let in’ s freeze this issue steps, you and will make read us about pay 35 Kevin percent Lyons toward, the health NJ State insurance PBA-endorsed, too. That candidate should do for the Retiree trick Representative. to the PFRS Trustee Board. His background and knowledge about pension To borrow issues a phrase speaks from for itself Chris. He Burgos is not, one president of the many of the candidates State Troopers that Fraternal suddenly Association into: this“ We race are in because a race the to the mood bottom struck.” To him borrow. Many another of those phrase candidates that just truly about have no sums concept it up:
jumped
“ of You what get that what PFRS you pay
Board for.” does So, when as evidenced
Paul Blart by responds their campaign to the next materials 9-1-1 call
. Kevin on his has Segway been and you are left shaking your head, please don’ t say nobody told you so. involved in union issues for decades and will bring that knowledge and passion to the PFRS
And, finally, this month we are honoring Summit Officer Matthew Tarentino, who was lost in
Board the
. line
If you of duty
are a on
retiree May
who 30. I
cares had the
about honor
your of
pension attending
, make his sure funeral
you service
vote. And. I didn
I hope’ t know
you
Matthew will vote, for but Kevin after Lyons attending. his funeral, I wish I had. From every account, he seemed to be an Finally extraordinary, we find human ourselves being again. The in eulogy another from tragic his period wife, Vicki of law, was enforcement an incredible officers tribute being to an injured incredible and killed man.. As A I tragic said at and the untimely beginning loss of the to his month family, there, friends will be and no those street of protests us in law or enforcement politicians calling, I have for no justice doubt; just that officers if Matthew and families had more mourning time on the this loss earth of we another all would hero have. The eventually answer to this known insanity his name will. not happen overnight, but the tide will change again. I pray it is
much As always sooner, please than later stay. safe and enjoy your summer! d Stay safe! d
4 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JUNE 2017