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NEW JERSEY COPS ■ DECEMBER 2014
2014 Valor Awards – Special Recognition
LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR
Hon. John S. Wisniewski
Assemblyman, 19th Legislative District
For the first time in
three years, the NJ State
PBA selected an honoree
to be Legislator of the
Year. State President Pat
Colligan noted that Wisniewski was one of the
state reps brave enough
to vote against the passing of Chapter 78, and
holding true to that vote
the past two years would
seem to be enough to make him worthy of the honor.
But as he deflected the applause for his recognition back on
the law enforcement officers in the room being honored on this
night, Wisniewski provided yet another charge that distinguishes him from other elected officials in Trenton.
“When you became a police officer, you took an oath, you
made a promise to do the type of things we heard about tonight
that make you amazing and remarkable,” he said. “You have
kept that promise every single day, and when I voted against
Chapter 78, that was about the promise the state of New Jersey
made to each and every one of you to stand behind you. The
state is grateful for the work you do in making us safe and protecting our communities and we have to guard that promise
every single day.”
CIVILIAN GOLD MEDAL
Nathan Bott
Manville Local 236
On Feb. 13, 2014,
Nathan Bott was digging
out his driveway from a
significant
snowfall
when he heard cries for
help coming from his
next-door neighbor.
He ran over and found
his neighbor, Harry
Hladun, lying in the
driveway being held by
his wife. Bott, falling back
on his military training, started CPR on Hladun. He continued until the paramedics arrived at the scene and took over
treatment using a defibrillator to bring Hladun’s pulse back
prior to them transporting the victim to the hospital.
CIVILIAN GOLD
MEDAL
Jeff D. Gregory
Boonton Local 212
On Aug. 30, 2013, the
Boonton Police, along with
Boonton Kiwanis Volunteer
Ambulance and Medics,
were dispatched to the Top
of the Park Restaurant for a
report of someone having a heart attack.
Upon arrival, the officers found Gregory performing CPR
on the victim. The EMTs and paramedics took over treatment and the victim had a pulse prior to leaving the scene.
The victim is still alive and well to this day.
FRIEND IN LABOR AWARD
Edwin Donnelly, President
NJ State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent
Association
The fiery, first-year FMBA president showed why he is the
best friend to the NJ State PBA by giving a pep talk rather than
an acceptance speech and imploring members to get active and
make a difference. He also asserted his strength-in-numbers
perspective, telling attendees that he will work tirelessly with the
PBA until the legislators in Trenton finally start to listen.
BUSINESS APPRECIATION AWARD
Wells Fargo Home Mortgages
2014
Valor
awards
NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan noted that for many
years the organization has been able to count on Wells Fargo
Home Mortgages to support any, and every, event. If these faces
(from left, Bob Obsuth, Jen Andreyev, Sharon Press and Andrea
Pasquin) look familiar, it’s because you see them at just about
ev