OPERATION: PAPAL PROTECTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 60
“Day to day, the PBA (Local) made the arrangement that we
would work a 12-to-14-hour schedule instead of our typical 10-hour
schedule to ensure proper manpower at each post,” noted Truppa,
who was assigned to District 3 in Hoboken, covering the waterfront
and the eastern part of Hudson County. The PBA also agreed to cancel days off, and Truppa – whose three days off fell during the Pope
deployment period – was among the officers who worked up-to an
11-day workweek. “Everybody understood we needed to do it. Obviously, at the end we were fatigued, but without a doubt everyone
remained professional and performed excellently.”
A great and mutually respectful relationship between labor and
administration was no small contribution to this successful multiday, multi-jurisdiction operation.
“We’re lucky that our chief has an open door policy, and he means
that,” Truppa acknowledged. “If I need to speak to him, his door is
open not just to the union but to officers as well. He has a family too,
and he recognizes that the officers need to get home safely the way
they came in that day. That makes our job in the PBA much easier.”
Trucillo responded that he has been very fortunate as well: “The
PBA is a very cooperative organization and a very professional
organization. What I’ve always tried to do, very early in the process,
was to be upfront with the PBA in what would be required [