Pacucci has seen steps in that direction . When he first brought Francesca , there were two or three law enforcement officers who walked . Now he brings his son , Andy , and he believes just passing the words about awareness has led to the bevy of honor guards leading the law enforcement remembrance and moving forward .
One of the law enforcement officers who has been through it all is Retired Local 199 State Delegate Ken Burkert , who lost a colleague more than 10 years ago . That led to his leading the formation of the NJ State PBA ’ s Peer Liaison Committee in 2008 . Burkert has handed the reins of that effort over to Ewing Township Local 111 State Delegate Mike Pellegrino , who has led the PBA participation in the Central Jersey Darkness Walk the past three years .
And now as the Law Enforcement Peer Liaison for Princeton House Behavioral Health , Burkert continues to work on mental health awareness , promoting brothers ’ keepers and raising the bar on suicide prevention . As he observed the largest participation at the walk as he has ever seen this year , Burkert confirms that as another sign of coming out of the darkness .
“ We ’ ve gained leaps and bounds since 2008 on destigmatizing mental illness ,” Burkert reports . “ With the way we ’ ve been able to educate brothers ’ keepers and how the PBA has grown the doctor-peer model with ( Clinical Services Director ) Dr . ( Gene ) Stefanelli and Dr . ( Michael ) Bizzarro , we have so many peers who have been trained in recognizing the signs and raising awareness . It doesn ’ t get any easier , but we have come here today to give remembrance and honor those we have lost .”
The brothers ’ keeper model utilizes the Question-Persuade-Refer ( QPR ) approach Cop2Cop teaches and has done so to train thousands of members through its partnership with the PBA . Perhaps the greatest sign that awareness is on the rise is Weiss ’ report that Cop2Cop is going to departments nearly every week and providing detailed programs for the PBA ’ s biggest membership groups like State Corrections Local 105 .
Furby saw the signs when looking back at all the people following the Morris County Corrections Honor Guard when the walk began .
“ Seems like a lot of people here today who lost members ,” he reveals . “ And no one wants to see it continuing . If we keep this up , maybe we can put this event out of business .”
Nobody walks alone
If the ultimate question asks where this is all leading , Burkert has a forward-thinking perspective . He recalls his days on the job coming home from an eight- or 16-hour shift each day and wanting to take his uniform off to cleanse himself before he would let his children even touch him .
“ It ’ s just your job , not your life ,” he details . “ If you don ’ t let go of
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