Response Time
A conversation with two prominent NJ State PBA members
This month
Beachwood Local 253 President Phil Schena and State Delegate Adam O’Connor
The Vitals
ADAM O’CONNOR
• Grew up in Beachwood
• Hired in 1994
• State Delegate since 2009
• NJ State PBA Legal Protection Plan
Committee member
• School resource offi cer and D.A.R.E offi cer
• Married to Michelle
• Father of Madison and Delaney,
stepfather of Taylor and Joey.
PHIL SCHENA
• Grew up in Beachwood
• Hired in 2004
• Local president since 2016
• Member of the Local 253 Golf Outing
Committee and Local 253 Unity Tour
Committee
• Married to Ashley and soon-to-be
father
F irst Response
You have been on the job together for years, but your friendship started a long
time ago in Beachwood. How did you meet?
ADAM: When I was a brand-new offi cer, a young Phil came up to me while I was working a
road job in town. He was 9 years old. It was a hot summer day. He was asking me questions
about the job. He told me, “Someday, I want to become a police offi cer.” I’ll never forget that.
He didn’t leave my side the whole day. At one point, it was so hot, I ran out of my water and
he said, “I’ll go home and get you a soda.” He rode his bike all the way home and brought me
back a soda. As a matter of fact, today he brought me a soda. It’s become a joke ever since
then.
PHIL: I remember the soda. There were other times when Adam was a crossing guard in the
morning before school. I would ride my bike there purposely and talk to him about things.
Conversation pieces
What inspired you to become a law enforcement offi cer?
ADAM: When I moved to Beachwood in 1972, Local 253 retired Chief John Wagner lived next
door to me. I would see him come home in his police car and he would let me sit in it. I would
see his uniform. What really inspired me about the profession as a young child was seeing
him all the time. That stuck with me my whole life. As far back as I can remember, I always
insisted on becoming a police offi cer.
PHIL: I grew up on the safest block in Beachwood. Offi cer Bill lived across the street from
me. Chief John Wagner lived down the street and Adam lived next door. The whole block was
cops. Offi cers sometimes lose sight of the importance of interacting with the youth in our
communities. By the time I was 17, it was pretty solidifi ed in my head that I would pursue a
career in law enforcement.
Adam, what was your reaction when that little kid who used to hang out with you
on the road joined you on the job?
Phil was off to the academy and I always kept tabs on him. We would always talk. That bond
never stopped. When Phil got hired, I told him, “You know you’re like my little brother now.”
When he got the job, I was very proud of him. I sort of had this vested interest in him to make
sure he didn’t mess up. He was a refl ection of me within the department.
30
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ MARCH 2019
Phil Schena (left) and Adam O’Connor
Phil, what inspired you to get involved with Local 253?
It was right around the time when (Lakewood Local 71) Offi cer Chris Matlosz was murdered.
Adam was like, “Come with me tonight and I’ll show you what being a police offi cer is all
about.” We went to the funeral and I helped out with the PBA trailer. This is actually where I
believe my whole PBA blood started. I saw that at the end of the day, it’s all of us as a team.
No matter if you’re a PBA member or not, you still wear the badge and it’s a very unique job
that only we can do. From that point on, I was very active with the PBA.
What’s it like working together now, as the President and Delegate of Local 253?
PHIL: We have balance; it’s like the yin and the yang.
ADAM: We work very well together. I’m the delegate, he’s the president – that’s sort of how
this story comes full circle. I’ve been on the executive board since I was hired, so I’ve never
known anything but being a union guy. I also know what it means in the profession to bleed
blue. That’s everything to me and the two concepts come together as a great combination.
Last Response
What have you learned from being a PBA member and what do you think is the
most important aspect of the job?
ADAM: When I started back in 1994, most of the guys in my department were on for 20-plus
years. Listening to them share how they started always amazed me. They all took pay cuts to
become police offi cers. Back then, they were in love with the profession. I don’t know if you
see that sort of inspiration anymore. It seems like some of the younger offi cers coming on the
job care more about the package than they do the profession. Let’s face it, our salaries have
gotten better. Our contracts and medical benefi ts, all of that stuff has gotten better. But it’s
important to remember what it means to put on that uniform every day.
PHIL: To me, the most important aspect of the job is the fraternity. It’s a part of the job that
I wish more guys would see as crucial. It’s more than just going out and solving crimes. At
the end of the day, the real reason for being a police offi cer is serving others and keeping the
brotherhood intact that only we know because we live it.