2015 NJSPBA
Mini-Convention
Mini to the Max
Three momentous presentations highlighted a mini-convention
that drew a huge attendance and even bigger raves.
Exclusive coverage runs through page 35
A message to protect you out in the streets
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
become like Joe Pesci or Danny Trejo in the
“Hungry” commercial before eating the
Mini-Convention attendees often get dis- Snickers Bar by the end of the day.
tracted late in the day’s agenda when even pickBut that all changed this year when it became
ing the 50-50 raffle winner seems to prolong the a matter of survival.
proceedings. In past years, members have
Day 1 of the 2015 convention on March 3
concluded with Retired Orange Police Officer
and Local 89 member Ken McGuire presenting
“A Shooting & Survival Story” detailing the 2001
ordeal that almost killed him. McGuire’s riveting
and information-packed elocution provided
attendees with a learning event that is still reverberating through PBA Locals across the state.
Shortly after the convention, NJ State PBA
President Pat Colligan reached out to McGuire
to let him know that members were still talking
about his presentation for several days. He was
that good.
“For me, it was the opportunity to reach out
throughout the state to get the message out
about survival for officers in the street,” McGuire
explained. “I’m hoping the Delegates can take
the messages back to their Locals and help save
some lives.”
President Colligan met McGuire at the Essex
County Police Chief’s Dinner
last year and invited him to
Day 1: Survival Story
speak at the mini-convention.
McGuire had made the Shooting & Survival presentation to groups from the
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, NYPD Brook-
28
NEW JERSEY COPS
n
MARCH 2015
lyn South and the U.S. Park Police, so he
embraced the opportunity to address a room
full of New Jersey’s most devoted officers.
The training recounts what happened on the
night of Jan. 13, 2001 when McGuire and his
rookie partner, Bryan Mooney, and Orange
Detective David Lemongello were part of stakeout at a gas station that led to furious gunfight
with robbery suspect Shantez Evans. Lemongello and McGuire were each shot in the exchange
and left fighting for their lives in critical condition.
McGuire spent 30 days in the Trauma Center
at University Hospital in Newark, 60 days in the
hospital and a year in therapy trying to recover.
More than 12 months following the incident
and after enduring seven surgeries, McGuire
had to retire from the Orange PD
His recital electrified the attendees with video
accounts from the officers who responded and
audio of the calls that took place. Hearing, “1013, Officer Down;” “Can’t see his hands;” and
“Drop the gun; we don’t have to do it this way;”
no doubt had lasting impact on everybody in
the room. And when McGuire saying, “I’m
shot…I’m shot” played, well, you could almost
hear heartbeats racing.
“It’s an emotional experience every time I do
this training,” McGuire confided. “Something
always pops into your head from when it hapSEE DAY 1, CONTINUED ON PAGE 34