42
NEW JERSEY COPS n AUGUST 2014
Board
Leaders
New State PBA E-Board
members dedicated to
furthering the mission
PHOTO BY JOHN HULSE
NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan, right, swears in new State Executive Board
Members (from left) Bryan Flammia, Michael Freeman and Ed Carattini Jr.
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan
and Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar
had been in office for maybe a few minutes when they were faced with a decision
that could shape the future of the organization. They actually hadn’t even moved
into their new offices at the state headquarters in Woodbridge when they had to
consider who to tab to join the PBA Executive Board.
Their ascension, along with retirements and promotions, left a number of
openings, specifically in the Union County, Passaic-Morris County and Essex
County areas. After getting input from
several members and key influencers,
President Colligan announced that
Verona Local 72 State Delegate Ed Carattini Jr (Essex), Dover Local 107 State Delegate Bryan Flammia (Passaic-Morris)
and Summit Local 55 State Delegate
Michael Freeman (Union) would be
added to the State PBA Executive Board as
Sergeants-at-Arms. All three were sworn
in at the NJ PBA State Meeting on July 15.
“All three are long-time delegates who
know what our goal is and know what
we’re looking for,” Colligan said. “We’re
not necessarily looking for the members
with the most seniority. We’re looking for
guys who have some seniority, who are
respected in their areas and have showed
up at the office to lend a hand when we
are moving a trailer to a funeral or when
we’re running a rally somewhere.”
Rather than extol their individual
accomplishments, President Colligan
added that Freeman, Carattini and Flammia each are known to be in touch with
the members and represent the needs of
all cops. In addition to finding three experienced and passionate board members,
Colligan and Kovar have added three
board members who are sure to advance
the PBA’s well-stated initiative of getting
all members involved in the union efforts.
Flammia is a 20-year veteran of the
Dover Police Department who has been
the Local 107 State Delegate since 2008.
He served a term as Local Vice President
then was President for seven years before
moving up when the Local’s State Delegate was promoted to sergeant.
He said that Colligan called and indicated ]HYH