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
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