Plunge
Annual Polar
5th Annual
2 25th
Polar Bear
Bear Plu
nge
Passaic County Sheriffs alive and well
In approximately two minutes, the 25th Annual Polar Bear Plunge
would commence with a stampede of Special Olympics support-
ers high-stepping into the waves. Edward Akins, president of Passaic
County Sheriffs SOA Local 286, set himself in plunging stance, knowing
why he was taking part for the 17th consecutive year.
“When you hit the water, it lets you know you’re alive real quick,”
Akins exclaimed.
He then revealed a feeling that only plungers know about how to en-
dure for the cause, for the athletes, for Special Olympics.
“Either way, it’s a little cold out here, but it’s going to be better in the
water,” he explained.
Passaic County Sheriff’s SOA Local 286 joined members of Passaic
County Sheriff’s Local 286 for what is increasingly becoming part of the
mission to be part of this event. Not everybody who comes plunges,
but in the end, that’s not a big deal.
“It shows the great brotherhood getting together for a great cause,”
Akins added. “I would strongly urge all members to come down even if
they aren’t going to go in the water. Come down, participate, be a spec-
tator and support this great cause.” d
Youth served in West
New York Local Aloha from Plainsboro
Local 319
Like all the other PBA Lo-
cals participating, West New
York Local 361 procured a
team of 15 to support the
cause. But the members also
used this event as a learning
experience to teach younger
officers the importance of
giving back.
In fact, Local 361 invit-
ed kids from the West New
York Police Department
Youth Academy to join in the
plunge to accentuate that effort.
“I would say it’s about the camaraderie, and, how would I put it: We want
the new guys to get involved,” explained Local 361 Trustee Marco Barrera,
who led the team for the third consecutive year. “There are a lot of new guys
around the department, and they don’t know the things you do for the com-
munity. So little by little, we’re trying to give them incentive.”
Part of that incentive included the Local purchasing a tent to headquar-
ter pre-plunge, camaraderie-building activities. The members also recruited
sponsors from town to increase the contribution that they made to Special
Olympics.
Barrera went on to talk about how West New York has been plunging for
the past eight years. Each year, the Local’s participation and donation grows
a bit. He has been able to increase participation by getting younger members
to understand how important it is to represent the town.
And there is another benefit he is advocating to inspire members to par-
ticipate.
“I’m going to tell you something,” Barrera continued. “We work very hard,
and sometimes we’re underappreciated. But there’s a time like this when you
can come down and be with other departments. You get caught up in the
enthusiasm, and it’s a good break from the reality of the job.”d Plainsboro Local 319 member Ralph Urie searched for
the one word that best captured the feeling of doing the
Polar Bear Plunge.
“Numbness,” Urie responded as he prepped for this
fifth foray into the freezing Atlantic.
“But the cause is worth it,” he continued. “Us being a
little cold for 10 minutes goes a long way for other people.
It’s why we do this; to get the kids whatever they need.”
In what appeared to be a measure to take their
minds off the numbness, Local 319 members dressed in
Hawaii-themed attire for this year’s event, right down
to their leis. The way these women and men were smil-
ing could only be induced by a tropical breeze, or so it
seemed.
“Pretending to be on an island and just enjoying the
day,” Urie confirmed. “It’s definitely part of it for us. A lot
of it is the brotherhood, to come down to represent our
department and to be together.” d
42
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ MARCH 2018