NJ Cops | Page 32

PBA forms relationship with Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Senator Greenstein is on your side President Colligan admitted that there are very few people PBA members can count on in Trenton, but one of those exceptions is Senator and newly appointed Law and Public Safety Committee Chair Linda Greenstein (D-14), whom he has worked with repeatedly since he took over office nine months ago. “To see a friendly face put on that committee made my job easier,” Colligan said as he invited Senator Greenstein to the podium. “I find your issues easy to be supportive of because they’re right,” Greenstein opened before giving a shout out to her recently retired brother-in-law who served in the Port Authority PD for 34 years. Senator Greenstein addressed the issue of body cameras and announced that her committee recently received approval for a study commission that will work not only with her committee but police organizations as well to study the subject before taking action. “Having this done in a proper way could be very useful to the police but it has to be done properly,” she noted. “I’m going to do everything in my power to push for this commission and see that it really takes place.” The legislator also added that she wants to make sure corrections officers are protected in regards to the Juvenile Justice Bill. “We want to make sure the interests that police and corrections officers have are protected in these bills and that’s what I’ll always do,” Greenstein promised. The senator then addressed the hot topic of pensions, stating that if there is any organization that deserves a good and safe pension system, it is the police and fire organizations. “We want this well funded pension system to be kept local and not be affected by some of the state’s problems,” said Greenstein. “I’ll do everything in my power so you don’t lose everything you fought for your whole career.” 32 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MARCH 2015 State PBA President Pat Colligan stressed to members the importance of establishing an ongoing relationship with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of NJ before introducing Gina Murdoch, the Deputy Executive Director for the NJ chapter. “Unfortunately, every three minutes another person is diagnosed with blood cancer and every 10 minutes we lose someone,” said Murdoch. “Our mission is to cure Leukemia, Lymphoma and Hodgkin’s and improve the quality of life for patients and families.” In 1960, if a child was diagnosed the survival rate was three per