2016 NJ State PBA Convention – Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix Rising
Bobby Smith lasting impression, tributes, news of action and political action that will help all members and even
The 2016 NJ State PBA Main Convention featured one of the last speeches from one of law enforcement’ s most inspiring individuals, presentations from two Arizona officers who made a
a few surprises. President Pat Colligan welcomed more than 1,000 delegates, members and guests to a week that furthered the State PBA’ s mission to make its conventions vital and memorable.
Why couldn’ t he go on forever? PBA members had been listening to Trooper Bobby Smith for nearly two hours when he preached to the convention on Sept. 16. Lunch awaited. A rinse in the pool might be out there somewhere, but only a few members left the room to call their families because Bobby told them to. So, please continue, Bobby.
Bobby Smith spent a few of those minutes recounting that horrific March 14, 1986 night when as a Louisiana State Trooper a motorist raced through his checkpoint. When he finally stopped and Bobby approached, the motorist opened fire with a 12-guage shotgun. He was hit in the face, and lying in a pool of blood, Bobby thought death was imminent. He survived. He was 33 years old. He spent the next 33 years living in blindness.
He endured the pain and the destitute, recovered, wrote three books, including his life story, Visions in Courage, earned a Ph. D in psychology and helped thousands of law enforcement officers. Trooper Bobby Smith could have gone on this way forever. Until he died in his sleep on Oct. 2. Trooper Bobby Smith lives on here, however. The words he proffered still reverberate for many in the convention meeting that morning. The messages are eternal. The legacy of Trooper Bobby Smith can be found in the thoughts he shared with PBA members that follow, only missing that sweet, southern, part-pastor / part-drill sergeant tone filled with insight those with sight could only hope to have.
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STORIES BY MITCHELL KRUGEL PHOTOS BY ED CARATTINI, JR.
The legacy of Trooper Bobby Smith
“ I will help you all night walk through your valley, but I have no time to listen to you complaining,” Bobby offered in what turned out to be the tone-setter for his sermon.
“ I will reach down and take off my shoe and hand it to you. Put it on if you got the guts. I doubt you have the guts to walk in my shoes. If you do, put on my shoes and bring them back in 30
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