Additional
Responses
NJ State PBA leaders and members who were part of the support teams in Dallas and Baton Rouge provide some closing thoughts on being there and the impact of the attacks:
I thought it was going to be really emotionally tough to be there, but it was such a good feeling to help them forget about their pain and sorrow for a little while.
- NJ State PBA Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar
It’ s just the people who came from all over standing outside in the Texas heat. You don’ t hear anybody complain. The fact that everybody came together to appreciate the lives of these officers and the profession, and to experience that was an honor to be a part of. The fathers, sons and brothers who lost their lives meant so much to the Blue Line.
- Raritan Township Local 337 State Delegate Meg Hammond
It’ s a trip I will never forget. I was proud to go for the NJ State PBA, and when they found out in Dallas that you were a cop, they would invite you into their house and cook you dinner.
- Bernards Township Local 357 State Delegate Hank Werner
People gravitated to us and the trailer. It was pretty overwhelming. As hot as it was, officers were still coming up to have their cup of coffee and chat it up. We found the more we talked about it, the more it helped ease the pain.
- Berkeley Heights Local 144 State Delegate Pat Moran
It was funny. A lot of guys wanted to come to the trailer to take pictures. They were super appreciative. Everybody was coming up and shaking everybody’ s hand.
- Manchester Township Local 246 State Delegate Artie Cronk
There’ s only a couple of times I have felt that sense of pride in the job. It was actually a life-moving experience. The little stuff people fight over at work, like who gets the better car. You don’ t know what’ s going to happen, so we should all find a way to put things like that behind us.
- Asbury Park Local 6 State Delegate Eugene Dello
In my own police department( Franklin Township), we’ ve had 15-to-20 people stop by bringing dinner or just to give some hugs. I hope our members see that when looking at what happened in Dallas and Baton Rouge that there is more good than bad.
- NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan
I think we were a real visible part of some positive attention. They saw that people from far away came because we are one big family. And when something like this happens, the distance that separates us doesn’ t matter.
- NJ State PBA Special Projects Coordinator John Hulse
38 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ AUGUST 2016