Marc Kovar
Executive Vice President
A full house in Atlantic City
Members just kept walking in the door. The start of our Mini
Convention was still about an hour away, but members just kept
walking in the door.
Many seats had been reserved for an hour already. So I walked
over to John Hulse, our PBA special events coordinator who
helped run the Mini Convention and asked if we could get more
chairs. And then I’m literally texting people at Bally’s to see if we
can get 50 more seats. And then another 50. And another 50. And
it went on for three days. Here we are in Atlantic City, and our
members just kept upping the ante.
As I’m sitting on the podium, welcoming speakers to talk
about member benefits, mental health and wellness and ideas
to help officers on the job, I’m wondering if all the members out
there in the audience are seeing what I’m seeing. Where are all
these people coming from? I’m so happy and proud at the way
they filled the room.
I go to a lot of these conventions, conferences and seminars.
And I often see people in the audience get up to go to the bath-
room or get a cup of coffee. And they don’t come back. The past
couple of years, our members have been getting up to grab a cup
of coffee, but they are coming right back in the room.
And the best part of all this might be that I’m seeing a lot of
younger faces in the room. It’s very encouraging to see so many
new members taking a lot of interest in the PBA.
So why are they sitting there all day, getting there early and
staying to the end?
From my perspective, seeing so many members engaged in
the convention ascension probably has something to do with
the benefits we have been working so hard to enhance. PBA
Health Benefits Coordinator Kevin Lyons presented information
about a proposed upgrade in healthcare providers that will be a
great asset for members. PBA PFRS trustees James Kompany and
Ray Heck reported about how we are moving forward to manage
our new pension system. And Legal Protection Plan Committee
Chair Meg Hammond related how our legal defense continues to
grow and add services for members.
Additionally, Director of Government Affairs Rob Nixon de-
tailed the work we are doing with the state legislature to make
sure we are on top of all the legislation that affects law enforce-
ment officers. He also reminded us of the impact our political
action continues to make and how important that will be in the
x
General Assembly elections this year.
Beyond that, the portions of the week-long agenda devoted to
addressing perhaps the most important issue law enforcement
faces every day kept them in their seats: mental health and well-
ness.
NJSPBA Chaplain Father John McCrone began the convention
with a message about help being available 24/7. Peter Killeen
and Dr. Stacy Pytal – former officers who provide mental health-
care especially designed for law enforcement – offered exten-
sive insight about suicide awareness and prevention. And Brian
Dawe, executive director of the American Correctional Officer
Intelligence Network, delivered an inspired dispatch about how
PTSD is affecting all of us.
Even Attorney General Gurbir Grewal began his presentation
with an announcement of a program his office will be working
on to provide more mental healthcare services for law enforce-
ment. These are messages our peer liaison team has been giving
you for several years, but we thought having some fresh faces
addressing members would provide an additional point of view
to accentuate the urgency and importance.
Speaking of the attorney general, he seemed to get mem-
bers on the edge of their seats by answering questions they had
emailed to him prior to his addressing the convention. And he
didn’t duck anything. He spoke the truth. He didn’t hide any
facts. He didn’t cherry-pick the questions. He answered the
tough questions that members asked. And if you didn’t pay at-
tention, you missed a lot.
One of the most rewarding things I saw came on the last day
of the convention. Usually on the last day, there is a dropoff in
attendance. But the house was still full on the final day.
A full report on the Mini Convention will be coming in the
April issue of NJ COPS Magazine, including FBI Special Agent
Joe Pistone telling his riveting story of going undercover to in-
filtrate the mob in what became the move, “Donnie Brasco.” I
want to thank all the members who attended for paying such
close attention to the work we have been doing, what’s going on
and what we’re working on for the future. We have taken over the
pension system, and we’re working on improving health bene-
fits. The PBA is really doing everything we can on behalf of our
members, so keep on coming through the door and find a seat.
We don’t want you to miss anything.
Welcome, new
State Delegates
The following State Delegate was sworn in during the
February NJ State PBA meeting at Harrah’s in Atlantic
City:
• Conrad Jimenez, Bloomingdale Local 354
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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