Follow the Thin Blue Line to
the Big Blue Family
Every year during Police Week in Washington, D.C.,
the Candlelight Vigil includes reading the names of
law enforcement officers who have been lost in the
line of duty and whose names are being added to the
wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial. As those names are called by state, I am
always inspired by officers who rise to stand at attention in honor of a fallen sister or brother; it is one of
Marc
many Police Week moments that can be truly lifeKovar
Executive
changing.
Vice-President
Another moment comes at the end of the Vigil
when a thin blue laser beams from one end of the ceremony to the other. This year, the Vigil was moved to
the National Mall, and the laser seemed to beam forever, from the
Washington Monument to beyond the Capitol. They say that this
represents the strength of the Thin Blue Line, that it goes on forever
and it is always solid.
There is no doubt in my mind that this line connects us all, but in
more than 10 years of coming to Police Week I believe that the laser
beam has created a force field that elevates the Thin Blue Line to the
Big Blue Family. Everywhere I turned in Washington, there was something more that gave me that heartwarming, Sunday-dinner, thankGod-I’m-here-with-my-wife-and-kids feeling.
It actually started the Monday of Police Week – May 9 – when the
20th anniversary Police Unity Tour left from Florham Park. It was a
privilege to be able to shake hands with so many brothers and sisters
and wish you a safe Tour. And the way you carried on even after we
lost Retired Roxbury Lieutenant Joe Franklin on the first day of the
ride was amazing. To see so many riders is a tribute to what officers
will do for each other no matter what. You only do that for a sister or
brother; you only do that for family.
To see how many riders honor Joe is further tribute to what officers
will do for each other no matter what. You only do that for a sister or
brother; you only do that for family.
When we arrived in Washington, we had the chance to welcome
one of our elected officials into our family. As part of the National
Association of Police Organization (NAPO) Legislative Day May 12 on
Capitol Hill, NJ State PBA Executive Board Members Pete Andreyev
and Charlie Schwartz joined me in presenting an award to New
Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo for his outstanding support of
American law enforcement.
Later that day, we were at the Law Enforcement Memorial meeting
the finish of the Unity Tour with riders going on for what seemed like
hours. It makes you so proud to see all those women and men from
New Jersey ride in, and then seeing everybody and hearing the stories
is like sitting around with your relatives, having a cold one and celebrating life.
From left, Peter Andreyev, New Jersey Congressman Frank LoBiondo, Marc
Kovar and Charlie Schwartz at the NAPO Legislative Day.
It makes me personally proud of the more than 2,000 members
this year who participated in the Unity Tour, paying out of pocket,
raising money and taking five days out of their lives – not to mention
all the training – for their brothers and sisters who lost their lives.
Now, I know you’re probably not used to me being this emotional,
but that’s what happens at Police Week. That’s why every officer needs
to see it at least once, to see the magnitude of your Big Blue Family. I
promise, once you go, you will want to come back every year.
This year, it seemed like the family grew by thousands. Because the
Vigil was moved to the Mall, twice as many people attended as in past
years. The candlelights were enough to illuminate much of the Jersey
Shore. And it made me so proud when our president, Pat Colligan,
stepped up to read the names of the four New Jersey officers who
were added to the wall this year.
What you see at the Vigil are the family members who lost an
officer finding comfort because they have become part of another
family. I suspect that is what the wife and daughters of Manchester
Township Local 246 Corporal Scott Thompson felt when nearly two
dozen of his friends and fellow officers came to Police Week to honor
their brother who was lost in 2015.
Police Week ended on a happy note at the NAPO Top Cops Dinner
the night of May 14. This is like the PBA Valor Awards honoring
officers from across the country who went above and beyond. It was
a great pleasure to meet Hamilton Township Officers Richard Rettzo
and Devin Hendricksen, who were honored with the Top Cops.
I want to leave you with a Police Week story of family, of course.
Every year when I go to the Memorial Wall, I see a sign a child, whom
I think is from Alabama, made that reads, “I miss you daddy. I love
you daddy.” Yes, it breaks me up inside, but I think of it this way: Next
time you want to get angry at your spouse and kids for something
insignificant, thank God they are there with you instead of visiting
you on the wall. d
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
cessful Mayor Guardian is under the parameters of the Atlantic City
Bill, a few will do everything within their vast power and influence
to make it all fail miserably and wind up a waste of time, energy
and money of epic proportions. There will be many more juvenile
taunts, second-guessing, third gue