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No shortage of valor for State PBA members When the NJ State PBA Valor Awards Committee tabbed 18 members as gold or silver medal winners for 2015, it made a definitive statement that, no matter what the public may think, going above and beyond the call of duty only seems to be more and more evident. “These are exceptional jobs, and I’m glad they are being recognized,” asserted John Granahan, Manville Local 236 State Delegate and chairman of the State PBA Valor Awards Committee. “Especially in this day and age when we don’t get recognized enough and people think we’re not doing the job, this is a reminder of how we are going above and beyond every day.” The 2015 NJ State PBA Valor Awards are being held on Nov. 21 at Caesar’s in Atlantic City. The awards ceremony will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. As has been the tradition, America’s Biggest Disc Jockey, “Big” Joe Henry will bring his “Livin’ Large and Lovin’ Life” appeal to the event. Nearly 70 members representing Locals throughout the state will be receiving Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals of Valor, Meritorious Service, Unit Citations and Lifesaving awards. Among the honorees are Trenton Local 11 members Marlon Parrott and Robert Albanowski, who earned honorable mention recognition at the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) Top Cops Awards during National Police Week this past May. Additionally, three Civilian Gold Medals will be awarded, the most in recent years. One is going to a bank employee who helped a law enforcement officer apprehend an armed bank robbers. 2015 NJ State PBA Valor Awards Nov. 21, Caesar’s Atlantic City Reception: 6 p.m. • Awards: 7:30 p.m. Dinner and Dancing to follow “We always like to recognize the civilians that go above and beyond,” Granahan added. “As we were reading the reports of those that were nominated, we saw that they are each unique in their own way. But you know, it’s real life. Nothing is far-fetched like a madefor-television movie.” The unique stories behind all Valor Award winners will be told in the December issue of NJ Cops Magazine. But there was one Granahan wanted to share: “We had one of our winners this year who was in a chase with a guy, who was a small guy, a little guy,” he explained. “He wound up going through an opening in a fence. The cop couldn’t fit through the opening, so he went right through the fence like a linebacker and kept chasing him until he caught him. That was a good job.” In addition to the awards of valor, the NJ State PBA will award its Member of the Year, Executive Board Member of the Year and the Local of the Year. And the Legislator of the Year Award will honor Atlantic City Mayor Donald Guardian. d www.njcopsmagazine.com ■ NOVEMBER 2015 55