My ‘Dallas Strong’ experience
I had the privilege to go to Dallas to honor
the five officers slain in the line of duty. First
and foremost, I was extremely proud of the
New Jersey State PBA to be there, front and
center, along with our brothers from Port Authority Local 116 with our new trailer to provide support and assistance to the members of
the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Area
Rapid Transit Police Department. I also want
to thank Chief Kevin O’Hara for allowing me
to represent my department. I attended four
of the five funerals for those officers and the memories will
definitely have a lasting effect on what we do as a union and
also what we do as a profession when we put on our uniforms
and go to work.
My memorable week began before I left for Dallas, as I attended an event that was hosted by Monmouth County Sheriff
Shaun Golden, which started as an idea conceived by Holmdel Local 239 member Chris Cherney and State Delegate Mike
Michalski. Mike and I laid a wreath in honor of Dallas PD Sergeant Michael Smith at the Monmouth County Police Academy. The Academy’s event was an honor to be a part of, and
was a very solemn ceremony celebrating the life and honoring
the sacrifices of all the officers from Dallas. This event’s overwhelming attendance is a testament to how hard Chris Cherney and Sheriff Golden worked to execute the ceremony, a feat
for which they should be congratulated.
When we arrived in Dallas, I couldn’t believe how we were
treated. Many people thanked us for making the trip. I was
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ AUGUST 2016
taken aback by an elderly couple who struck up a conversation while I was waiting in line at the hotel desk. The couple
couldn’t believe we made the journey to Texas and thanked
me for my service. Even the hotel staff was extraordinarily welcoming and thankful for us to be in Texas honoring the officers.
Everywhere we went people approached us and tried to buy
us a meal or drinks, and thanked us for our service. This was a
surreal experience.
Unfortunately I have been to far too many police funerals,
and attending those in Dallas was a stunningly amazing experience because we experienced, firsthand, how Texas does
things. They say in Texas that they do it bigger and better,
which I can confirm they did. From the majestic churches in
which the funeral services were held, to the funeral procession
where I observed both sides of a major interstate being shut
down and people standing on the shoulders of the roadway
waving American flags with signs that simply read “Thank
you.” Even people standing on the overpasses of the highway
were waving American flags. It was truly an incredible experience.
The one takeaway from my Dallas experience is that this
country does respect the job the law enforcement community does, and that in no way can we acquiesce to a few radical
liberals who want us to fade away and not do our jobs. I know
one thing is going to be continuous; the New Jersey State PBA
has the back of each and every officer here in New Jersey and
in every other state in the union! d