Response Time
A conversation with a prominent NJ State PBA member
This month:
Berkeley Heights Local 144 and State PBA Trustee Pat Moran
The Vitals
• Grew up in Elizabeth
• Local 144 State Delegate since 2006
• PBA Executive Board member since September 2015
• Married to Kristine( 16 years this month)
First Response
We see you have made a lot of trips with the NJSPBA Special Services trailer throughout the state and the country. Why do you like going the extra mile? And how many miles have you gone?
It feels like several thousand. I’ ve been to Baton Rouge, Delaware, Atlanta and most recently to Virginia. The trips are really interesting because I’ ve been fortunate to ride alongside John Hulse, who is a wealth of information, and Keith Curry, who also shares in the belief that we are our brothers’ keepers. I think being called upon to serve is part of your obligation. You are away from your family, but you also get to come home to your family. And the people you are traveling to serve are never coming home.
Conversation pieces
What made you think about wanting to become a law enforcement officer?
When I played baseball at the PAL, coming from a family with my mother and father both self-employed, you had to find other means to get to baseball. The PAL coach, Nicholas“ Ish” Maruschak, was a police officer, and he would pick up kids in his detective’ s car and take us to the field for practice or games. It showed me that police officers were there to help. They were looking out for our best interest. I wanted to help people and their families.
And you knew then? Well, my uncle was a bartender in Elizabeth and he knew all the cops. They always had a positive outlook. Due to some bad luck, we had a lot of contact with cops – our house was broken into three times, our car was stolen and my older brother’ s T-tops were stolen a couple of times. The cops always seemed to be there to help.
Anything else? I remember another reason of why I got into police work. My first cousin was the head of the U. S. Justice Department’ s Organized Crime Strike Force and was alleged to have been killed by members of organized crime families. Even though I was young when he passed, I wanted to be like him so I could help people and get the bad guys off the streets. I did get to pursue that aspect of crime while being assigned to the Union County Prosecutor’ s Office Narcotics Strike Force, where I was able to investigate drug cases and organized crime activities.
What is it about the job in these challenging times that keeps you going?
The end result. I just did a fraud investigation. After two months, it all came together. I was able to get two people restitution. When you catch the bad guys, bring closure and the victims are happy, we can make somebody’ s life better. That’ s why I still have passion for the job.
26 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ SEPTEMBER 2017
Pat Moran, left, with NJ State PBA First Vice President Pete Andreyev, Special Projects Coordinator John Hulse and Vernon Township Local 285 State Delegate Keith Curry get ready to take the PBA Special Service Trailer to Virginia for two officer funerals in August.
How did you get the passion for the PBA? My grandfather was a big union guy for Westinghouse. And there was a captain in our department, Steve Stamler, who said,“ Why don’ t you think about being the delegate. You know people. You have a good personality. How about just doing it – one term?” Steve had two beliefs: keep to the code and make it happen. So I ran for delegate and won. Once I got involved, I knew Steve was right to push me. I keep to the code and try to make things happen that are in the best interest of our Local.
How difficult is it to be a union leader in these challenging times? There’ s really no positive outlook; just trying to hold on to what you have. Our contract expires this year, and with the recent decisions in Atlantic County and Bridgewater, there is a push to get it done before they have to start paying the steps. We already have 16 steps.
How is that affecting your members? It’ s a strain at work. Each officer is looking out for their future and how to keep up with rising costs when their paychecks aren’ t rising. If you look at the last few years, guys have actually taken pay cuts because of mandatory payments into medical benefits and the 2-percent cap. It’ s stressful for all concerned.
But even in situations like this, you always seem to be able to keep it going. Is that the positive outlook cops have, and is that what you try to bring to being a union leader? It’ s like recently when we were facing the hurricane getting in the way of the annual convention. The PBA leadership was always positive. And it’ s not only that situation, but everything. When Pat( Colligan) and Marc( Kovar) ask me to be a part of something, the answer is always yes, because I want to make a difference in a positive way. Any time Pat and Marc speak, it’ s never anything negative. They believe we’ re going to win, and we’ re playing until the last out. Nobody ever gives up.
Last Response
What motivates you to give so much to the PBA, Local 144 and the job?
I hope our members think I’ m the kind of a guy who will do anything for you. I’ d rather be behind the scenes instead of in front of the camera. It’ s not about the title or the credit. It’ s about making a difference, big or small. There are times when you have to become the leader in the group. I can be that guy. But I like being the quiet guy who will do whatever is needed.