Bahamas Acting Police
Commissioner Anthony
Ferguson welcomes
NJ State PBA members
to “paradise” with a
request to make
convention week
a time for “renewal
of mind, body
and purpose.”
Neil Van Ess (second from left) with fellow members of the Military Order
of the Purple Heart.
was a disabled Vet,” he says. “Peo-
ple called us baby-killers then. I
came back to fight another war at
home.”
Eventually, he joined the
Totowa force in 1982. During a
33-year career, he rose through
the ranks to detective bureau
commander and eventually
capped his career as captain pa-
trol commander.
Now at MOPH, he is leading
an organization that was formed
in 1932 for the protection and
mutual interest of all who have received the dec-
oration. Composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients, it
is the only veterans service organization comprised strictly of
combat veterans. Funds for welfare, rehabilitation and/or ser-
vice work carried on by the organization are derived through
the collection of used household items, the operation of thrift
stores, through the donation of automobiles and, at the com-
munity level, from the annual distribution of its official flower,
the Purple Heart Viola.
Van Ess believes he can serve veterans with their visible and
invisible wounds.
“A lot of them come back with post-traumatic stress,” he says.
“I will not use the word ‘disorder’ because it is not a disorder.
That word stigmatizes it. I can’t stand that stigma. Cops are hu-
man just like everyone else, and if I can serve a purpose to help
them I am going to do it.
Van Ess has also served as a member of the Totowa Board of
Education and developed the Cops for Kids program for the
school district. He’s been retired since 2012, but the father of
two and stepfather to three clearly shows no sign of slowing
down.
He is busy trying to help veterans affected by the hurricanes
in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. He is even helping several vets
in Guam. Even though he is constantly helping people in his
new leadership position, he says that law enforcement officers
hold a special place in his heart.
“Being a cop was the fulfilment of a dream,” he says. “It’s the
greatest job ever. There are so many good things you can do as
a cop to help people. I was very blessed. Our union is also im-
portant to me. Being a soldier and being a cop are amazingly in-
tertwined. It’s all about service. There’s the brotherhood of blue
and the brotherhood of purple.” d
60
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ OCTOBER 2017