the 2015 NJ State PBA Main Convention
Jersey City’s own…
Mick McHale, president of the National Organization of Police Associations (NAPO) and a Jersey
City native, added some energy to the first day of
the convention by updating members about
some key issues being worked on with the federal
government.
“We’ve called on the Administration to start
looking into police departments receiving federal
tax dollars so they can start doubling up on the
men and women serving on the streets,” noted
McHale, who is also president of the Southwest
Florida PBA.
He added that NAPO is also working on two
bills that call for the elimination of the Cadillac Tax
The Butler did it
A rousing ovation kept growing louder as
members stood and applauded for NJ State
PBA First Vice-President Mark Butler who
officially retired from duty after 23 years on
the job.
“It hurts to see such an experienced member leave,” NJ State PBA President
announced. “Mark has been a great aide
serving me, Tony Wieners, Mike Madonna
and so many of our members. He’s a fixture
that would impact health care costs for members
in retirement. McHale also explained that NAPO
did a study of elected officials in Washington, D.C.,
scoring them on a scale to 50, with higher numbers showing lack of support for law enforcement.
New Jersey elected officials scored a 46 in the
study, he reported.
“So I’m begging you to get out and vote,”
McHale followed. “You need to identify the candidates who are going to help us best. Regardless of
party, find the individuals who will support our
cause.” d
for our organization who will be greatly
missed.”
Butler served as State Delegate for Ridgewood Local 20 since 1994.
Butler stepped to the microphone and
when the ovation finally quieted, he flashed
that omnipresent smile and expressed his
gratitude to the PBA. “Thank you for allowing
me to serve and be part of the Executive
Board,” he said. d
The Vegas way
Detective Bryan Yant, Technology Director,
and David Roger, General Counsel, both from
the Las Vegas Police Protective Association,
keynoted Day 1 of the convention with a presentation about their experiences with officerinvolved shootings and the Cici’s Pizza attack in
which two of their members were assassinated.
Roger garnered an immediate ovation when
he was introduced as the man who convicted
O.J. Simpson. He was a prosecutor for 25 years,
the last nine as a District Attorney. Roger submitted that when the Police Association hired him,
he had one mission. “That no office would be
indicted under my watch as a result of an officerinvolved shooting,” he said.
Another rousing applause followed that comment, and then Roger proceeded to review a
number of reasons to caution members about
the rights of the officer involved in a shooting or
an incident that required use of force. He accentuated how union representatives can “lock
down” the scene to protect the officer from having to make a statement without representation
and taking time so as not to say something that
could become a problem. In the end, Roger’s
advice was to make sure your Local has a proce-
dure to handle these incidents, and to follow it
without exception.
Detective Yant, who represents 2,500 cops in
Las Vegas under the rank of sergeant, showed the
video from the Las Vegas Metro Police response
to the shooting that killed Officers Alyn Beck, 41,
and Igor Soldo, 31, while they were having lunch.
After recounting the events, Yant left members
with an important message:
“This is a reminder that as much as we try and
stay vigilant – whether it’s getting gas in Houston
or eating pizza on your lunch hour – you can
never be prepared enough, you can never be vigilant enough.” d
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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