Members of the NJ State PBA Delegation in Dallas with law enforcement
officers from around the world, including members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
STRONG RESPONSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32
It was a week of seminal moments. Werner described how his hotel window looked
out over the crime scene and that he saw
the red lights the whole time with the investigation going 24-7. Cronk shared how
the funeral services were in churches the
size of cathedrals or football stadiums – one
in the same in Texas – yet the crowds still
overflowed into the lobbies, adjacent chapels and even the parking lots.
“One procession was the longest I have
ever seen,” he continued. “When they told
us the first cars were arriving at the cemetery, there were still cars that
had not left the parking lot. It stretched for more than eight miles.”
The village that formed around the trailer could have passed for
the floor at the Democratic or Republican National Convention. Except that in addition to representing the 50 states, there were officers
from Mexico, France and the United Kingdom. The Royal Canadian
Mounted Police was also there.
Surprisingly, the PBA and the Port Authority were the only organizations to bring canteens to Dallas and eventually Baton Rouge.
Setting up for the Saturday night barbecue the NJ State PBA hosted for
more than 800 officers and their families and friends.
Hulse said many agencies toured the PBA trailer and that he anticipates seeing many more pop up across the country. All of this resulting from doing what they do to show the
support and camaraderie.
“It gave me a sense of pride in our union
that I wish everybody could have felt,” Dello
emphasized.
And here’s a sense of what the presence
of that union meant in Dallas. Dello and
Werner were driving to one of the funeral
services with Holmdel Local 239 State Delegate Mike Michalski and Vice-President
Chris Cherney. When they arrived, they
found the parking lot filled and no cars being allowed in.
“We told the cops running security that we were officers from
New Jersey and we were trying to get to the trailer,” Michalski shared.
“They said, ‘You guys are from Jersey?’ And then they started moving
barricades to let us in.”
After four funerals and stretching the thin blue line for so many
miles, there was only one way to conclude this week. On Saturday
night, the NJ State PBA combined with the Port Authority PBA to host
a barbecue for about 800-plus.
The Port Authority PBA Local 116 truck and trailer alongside the NJ State PBA truck and trailer set up for a funeral in Dallas.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ AUGUST 2016