2016 Out of Darkness Walk
Moving Forward
Darkness Walk shows NJ State PBA continues to take positive
steps in suicide awareness and prevention
We wanted to take the lead at the Out of
Darkness Walk. On that Sunday morning, Oct.
2, Bergen County Sheriff’s Department Local
134 State Delegate Andy Pacucci, his son Andrew, Berkeley Heights Local 144 State Delegate Pat Moran and my wife, Dee, wanted to be
out in front of the 500-plus people who came to
walk the three-mile course at Buccleuch Park in
MIKE
PELLEGRINO New Brunswick because we believe this was a
PEER LIAISON day to see the light.
Certainly, the Darkness Walk is a grieving
CHAIR
process for many people, myself included. I
have lost two people from my Local, Ewing Township 111. But
this was also a day to go out and talk to other people who have
the same experiences, to help people get through what they
need to get through.
If there is one aspect Andy, Pat and the other members of
the NJ State PBA Peer Liaison Committee want to take the
lead on, it is reminding people to talk to somebody. And that’s
what this day was all about. I know whenever I talk to somebody, I always feel a little bit better. You get another point of
view and can look at your situation objectively.
It’s so tough to know who is going to be that next person
capable of doing something that will lead to the darkness,
so we must talk about it. Talk to our therapists with the PBA’s
Clinical Services – Dr. Gene Stefanelli and Dr. Michael Bizzarro. Talk to the amazing people at Cop2Cop, where Director
Cherie Castellano continues to show us all how to be the best
peers we can be. Follow our lead and, no matter what, make
sure you communicate and talk about it when you feel like
there is no other solution.
Suicide prevention comes from people who want to be part
of the bigger solution, and on a day like this when we provide
the reassurance and comfort to those left behind after a terrible tragedy, we can also provide the motivation.
Mike Pellegrino, left, Andy Pacucci and his son, Andrew, took the lead
at the 12th annual Out of Darkness Walk along with Pat Moran and Dee
Pellegrino right behind them.
So we took the lead at the Darkness Walk because it’s a way
to try to make sure nobody gets left behind and to keep moving forward. Don’t wait until something happens to you or
your Local that makes it hit home and you find yourself in the
pack on a day