26th Annual
Polar Bear
Plunge
State Corrections Local 105
raises up once again
The hugs filling the Sawmill restaurant at the south end of
the Seaside Heights boardwalk once again made the Polar
Bear Plunge feel like a family reunion for the 1,300 State Cor-
rections Local 105 members on the premises. The food and
beverages also attracted the members to purchase enough
tickets to this party to help the Local raise more than $15,000
for Special Olympics.
But the boldface type on what has become a signature mo-
ment for Local 105 could be seen on the Sawmill patio where
the Local had its merchandise mart set up. Here was the
“fund” in fundraiser for a group that has elevated the “fun”
in fundraiser.
Under the leadership of Executive Vice President Bill Sulli-
van, and with the assistance of Brian Renshaw Jr., the son of a
certain Local 105 president, this store presented sentiments
showing the strength of correctional police officers with
clothing and accessories for sale to help so many. Everybody
who walked through could not help but stop and marvel at
shirts and hoodies with the message on the back: WE STAND
FOR THE FLAG. WE KNEEL FOR THE FALLEN.
“I saw it online one day and put it on a T-shirt,” Sullivan
explained. “Actually, we’ve sold about 200 of them. It’s the
brotherhood. It’s the morale. Our members look forward to
this every year. They come all fired up.”
Renshaw – the senior one – noted how the Polar Bear
State Corrections Local 105 sold shirts and other items during the Polar
Bear Plunge as part of its fundraising eff orts.
One of the items for sale was a shirt with a
special message on the back.
From left, NJ State PBA Pres-
ident Pat Colligan, Brian
Renshaw Jr., State Correc-
tions Local 105 President
Brian Renshaw and NJ State
PBA Executive Vice Presi-
dent Marc Kovar outside the
Sawmill restaurant, where
Local 105 hosted its Polar
Bear Plunge celebration.
Plunge party is intended to be a morale booster for officers
who face some of the toughest challenges in New Jersey law
enforcement every day. Members come from all 13 state cor-
rectional facilities, and for most of them, this is one time of
the year they get to see each other.
“They love this, one, because of the cause of Special Olym-
pics. And a lot of them just love to plunge,” the Local 105 pres-
ident commented. “But they also come to raise money for our
foundation, which helps our members who have had house
fires or need assistance with medical expenses. It just brings
us all together like a family united.”
Ticket sales to the feast at Sawmill raised the funds that the
Local donated to Special Olympics. This was part of Local 105
getting its plunge on with the utmost panache.
Beyond the bevy of members who take the plunge, one of
the signature items on sale were the robes plungers sported.
Sales of cigar cutters, winter hats, ball caps and pink patches
promoting cancer awareness also contributed to the fund and
the fun.
“I feel like everybody wants to come and represent Local
105,” Sullivan added. “It’s the pride in their job, pride in the
Local and pride in the PBA.”
56
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ MARCH 2019