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NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2014
Harrison Local 22 State Delegate Joe Nigro tells NJ COPS
why it’s not personal; it’s strictly business
Ring up Joe Nigro and while his cell phone service searches for him you might hear Clemenza or Frankie Pentangeli making one of those memorable discourses from “The Godfather.” A 45-minute conversation with Nigro is
equally memorable, covering keeping the faith in the department, the State PBA and a lot more. Nigro had one
of those conversations with NJ Cops recently and explained why he loves being a State Delegate and why you never
go against the (PBA) family…
Why The Godfather?
we need somebody like the union to look
after us while we’re looking after everybody else. We’re out there fighting for
everybody else in times when we’re being
bombarded, so we need the union to keep
fighting so we can stay out there and keep
fighting. We have a proactive union that
stays on top of things for all police officers.
If you’re a cop and you’re wearing blue,
we’re going to help you. That’s the substance of our State PBA.
It is my favorite movie, as it is for most people,
cops included. I know it’s absolutely fiction; the
mafia never existed.
OK, OK, we promised strictly business.
How is business for cops in Harrison,
and for all first responders given the
layoffs and other challenges of the past
couple years?
You know we were one of the two municipalities in the state that had more paid firefighters
than police. They’re down to like 29 now, and
our department is at 35. With all the building in
town – a new PATH station and multi-use commercial/residential property by the new Red
Bull Arena – I really think they need to hire
more people. I don’t know if it’s going to work.
But that’s just the way it is.
What way?
We’re a town under the DLGS division of local
government services. The state holds the purse
strings. We’d love to hire but we can’t because
the state won’t let us. We’ve been hearing that
for 15 years as we steadily decline. We’re not
the only ones you know that have been cut
down in Christie’s tenure with the 2-percent
cap.
How has all this affected you
personally?
Well, I’m starting my 22nd year. I’ve been with
Harrison for 14 years. I did three years with
Hudson County Sheriff’s Office and five years
in Hudson County Corrections. I want to get
out after 25 years if I can afford it. I wasn’t planning on retiring earlier, but with everything
that’s gone down, with everything the legislators are taking away, it’s hard not to go. We’re
going to be losing a lot of good guys and a lot
of good delegates will be leaving because they
really have no choice.
OK, we said we wouldn’t make it
personal. How has it affected the job?
I’m in the detective bureau, and my job is property and evidence custodian. But our detective
bureau is down to three guys, so I handle property and evidence, investigations, computer
work and everything else.
What can you do about it?
Well, that is the big challenge. It’s a challenge
to every delegate in the state. We have to keep
the faith in bargaining and how we’re going
about it. We have to keep fighting the good
fight. Everybody has their own opinion, and
you can’t blame them. Some guys want to do
things one way, but we’re part of the union,
and we need to leave it in the State PBA’s
hands.
How do you get your members to keep
the faith in the State PBA?
Our State PBA, our members and our job as
a whole is what’s most important. We’re
paid and trained to serve and protect, and
How do you manage as a State
Delegate in times like these?
I like being a delegate because I like being
in the know. I like that the Local members
come to me to know what’s going on, and I
like being part of what’s going on. If I can’t
get an answer, I know one is only a phone
call away. I know there are so many delegates who have been through this and they
can help with answers. I tell our members
to try and keep their heads up and that
we’re going to get back to where we used
to be. I like being a delegate because you’re
in a position to fight for the women and
men on the state and local level.
What did you learn from your tour as
a Corrections officer that has helped
you?
The biggest thing is reall H