Final Thoughts
As they head off into retirement, four esteemed PBA members, with more
than 150 years of combined experience, give us the answers to how they
made it this far and some other interesting questions
Andy Haase
Andy retired as State PBA Second
Vice-President after 34 years, 9 months of
service to Teaneck Local 215 and his department. He took over as State Delegate
in 1995 after serving four years as Local
president. He was appointed to the State
Board in 1997 and spent most of his career
assigned to patrol with an eight-year stint
as a detective with the warrant squad.
Favorite part of the job?
Working on the street with people. I loved
being a street cop. I had a good time being
out there.
How did you get involved with serving the
PBA?
The department unilaterally and illegally
took money out of my paycheck because
of a damaged radio. I wasn’t afforded any
due process. I joined the Local my first
year and soon thereafter, I became sergeant-at-arms.
Favorite part of working for the PBA?
Working for the membership, working
with other Locals and working with the
Bergen County Conference. We all worked
together to achieve a goal. I liked rallying
with the trailer at a funeral and going to
events to support members. I also like
supporting members who had problems
and supporting politicians we wanted to
get elected.
Most memorable moment on the job?
When you’re on a call and the outcome is
positive: a life gets saved or problems we
help resolve. When you walked away from
a call with a smile that was a bonus. And
if you helped somebody, that’s what policing is all about. Even if you had to give
somebody a ticket for running a stop sign,
you hope they will think about it the next
time. And that might save somebody’s life
down the road.
Most memorable moment with the PBA?
In the Local, it was the night (Teaneck
Officer) Gary Spath was found not guilty
for shooting an African-American youth
in 1991. I was in the courtroom for the
whole trial. If you look at the videos from
that night, the only people in the courtroom who didn’t move when the verdict
was announced were the priest, Gary’s
wife and me. I was like, “Thank God it’s
over.” The way the government turned
on law enforcement and how justice prevailed at the end of the day is hard to put
into words.
What are you looking forward to doing in
retirement?
Going back to work. I might be working
security at a local college. I’m joining Local 600 and will do whatever they need to
be done. If the guys in the state office call
on me to do something, I will be there in
a heartbeat.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming
union leaders?
Work for your members and work for your
Local. Represent your Local and members the best you can, and work together
with the other Locals as much as you can.
George Miller
The retiring State PBA Recording Secretary and Local 84 State Delegate said his
40 years with Secaucus started because
the job was available so he just took it.
He spent his first 20 years in patrol, then
came in to run the desk for 10 years at the
request of his chief. He spent the last 10
running the department’s fleet, and he
might still be working if there were no
mandatory retirement at 65.
Favorite part of the job?
What I was doing managing the fleet. And
the paycheck.
How did you get into union service?
Early on, I started helping the Local president with the dinner dance, and I just
got more and more involved. I was Local
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President for seven years before I became
State Delegate in 1993-94. I was appointed to the State Executive Board by President Frank Ginesi, and Mike Madonna
asked me to become Recording Secretary.
Favorite part of working for the PBA?
On the Local level, making sure things
were done right and members were getting what they deserved. On that state
level, helping Mike, Tony and Pat the best
I could.
Most memorable moment with the PBA?
At the convention that just ended, I looked
out and realized I had sworn in just about
every State Delegate in that room.
What are you looking forward to doing in
retirement?
I don’t know right now; it’s kind of up in
the air. I won’t relax and take it easy. I will
definitely find something to do.
What advice do you have for up-and-coming
union leaders?
Not to be all about them. Reach out for
your members and help them as much as
you can. A lot of the new guys are from the
Burger King generation. It’s not all about
them, it’s about the women and men they
represent.