The President’ s Message
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICEMEN’ S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD
PATRICK COLLIGAN State President
MARC KOVAR Executive Vice-President
Peter Andreyev 1st Vice-President Henry Werner 2nd Vice-President Michael Pellegrino 3rd Vice-President Mark Aurigemma 4th Vice-President Eugene Dello 5th Vice-President Keith Bennett 6th Vice-President Richard Kott 7th Vice-President Frederick Ludd, Sr. 8th Vice-President Luke Sciallo 9th Vice-President Frank P. Cipully 10th Vice-President John Cernek 11th Vice-President Ed Carattini, Jr. 12th Vice-President
Michael Kaniuk Financial Secretary Margaret Hammond Recording Secretary John Monsees Treasurer
Michael Freeman Trustee Bryan Flammia Trustee Robert Ormezzano Trustee Terrance Benson, Sr. Trustee Rodney Furby Trustee Charles Schwartz Trustee Patrick Moran Trustee
Joseph A. Macones Sergeant-at-Arms Sean Plasket Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Tardio Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Heller Sergeant-at-Arms Keith Curry Sergeant-at-Arms Christopher Ricciotti Sergeant-at-Arms John Granahan Sergeant-at-Arms Andrew Pacucci Sergeant-at-Arms Joseph Nigro Sergeant-at-Arms Kelly Polack Sergeant-at-Arms Glenn Pagano Sergeant-at-Arms
4 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ FEBRUARY 2017
Remembering Bobby Smith and matters related to PFRS
Keynote Address
On Jan. 17, NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan gave the keynote address at On Sept 16 those of us who were at the PBA Convention in Phoenix had the the graduation of the Cape May County Police Academy 41st Basic Course for extraordinary Police Officers honor. Here of are hearing some Louisiana excerpts from State that Trooper address Bobby: Smith tell the story The of NJ his State incredible PBA publishes, and truly New unbelievable Jersey Cops, journey Magazine through and the life director. His story was had kind what enough I know to allow will be NJ Cops a profound complete and access lasting from impact the very on first many day of that our these lives that recruits day. arrived in August until their graduation today. It was an honor and a privilege On Oct. to 2, follow we woke these up recruits to the surreal. The police news academy that Bobby provides Smith extraordinary had passed
Patrick away training through for these the night recruits
. I can, and
’ t even they begin are well to prepared adequately for tell policing his story in 2017 on these
and
Colligan beyond. The training will prepare them for just about anything that they will pages. If you weren’ t at the convention and want to learn about his inspiring encounter. story What please I would see page like to 52 tell or you visit first www, in. visionsofcourage the audience, is what. com. the We Academy lost another has
done for you. I true don’ t hero think on the Oct officers. 2, a blind are going man who to want taught us to more talk than about 1 million it, but you people deserve since it after 1986 watching how to see them. all leave every Sunday or Monday morning. This academy has taught them how If you to iron follow. They New can Jersey make politics their beds, even. They a little learned bit, you how witnessed to use a washing one hell of machine a ride in. Unfortunately days of, it October’ s only khakis. If you and weren whites’ t happy, but with I assume the political you can landscape let them know at any how one to moment use colors in those when
the first you days get, you home only
. Most had to importantly wait about, they 15 minutes can shower for the
, shave score and to change do all of. The their score other changed business often and
. get out of the bathroom in 30 seconds. That’ s what the academy has done for you. It forced us, for many reasons, to endorse a gubernatorial candidate much quicker than we
Things have changed slightly since I graduated from a similar academy in 1992. Most of these recruits had anticipated hadn’ t been. I will born explain yet. Yahoo the landscape was something and how you quickly said when it moved you were at our excited Oct. Gas 18 state was $ meeting 1.05 and. We you also paid have the toll the on great the honor Parkway of introducing with something our called endorsed a token candidate. So we can, Ambassador
agree that times Phil Murphy have changed, at that since meeting 1992.. The technology has certainly changed, and much of the police training Later has in the changed pages. of But this the issue core principles you will hear of policing more about have not the. plan to split PFRS from the
state The as members a stand-alone of the very system first run municipal as a public police labor department management from Boston plan. reported I will say for that duty after in 1838 almost
, as two these years officers of research are responding
, I haven’ in t found
2017. What one single has not reason changed not, to and do will it, but never many change reasons
, are the core values of law enforcement: professionalism, compassion, respect, integrity and dedication. Whether you respond on horseback or in a car, whether you respond with a lantern or a
to do it.
flashlight The plan, the will call have was zero answered impact the on same the other way systems in 1838 as. We it will was still in 1992 contract, and with will be the tomorrow Division for to cut some checks of you and. administer parts of the plan so nobody gets laid off. Standing alone, our plan You will be respond ranked with in the professionalism top 150 pension, compassion plans in, the respect country, integrity, and we and will dedication still be able. Bring to those purchase values investments to every call at. the Treat best every possible victim rates and. even every suspect like you would want your family to be treated. And you will enjoy a very long, healthy and rewarding career. The technology may be vastly different 25 or 30 years from now. The training will change. But those core
The NJ State pension investments lost almost 1 percent this past year. When compared values
nationally will
, remain
you should exactly
know the same
that took – I guarantee
a lot of work it.
Quite simply that should not have happened Regardless. Standing of the alone size would of your also agency give or us part greater of the control state to where restore you COLA will be much working quicker, you than will
witness Chapter the 78 would very best ever and allow the and very eventually worst society return has us to to offer the. days You will of a witness single tier the. Most first breaths importantly life and, the the new last plan gasps would before still death be considered. You will make a“ public the death” plan notification, and we would to a family maintain and feel the
of like constitutional the loneliest right person to a pension the planet.. You will arrive first on the call and feel like backup will never The arrive bill has. You been will drafted be honored and and as expected praised. You is already will be at criticized 47 pages, unfairly. I think judged most would and vilified agree. But you will get to the finish line in this career, look back and realize that you really did make a
that the state isn’ t very good at running a pension. Nothing will ever protect us from a downturn
difference and never wonder if you made the right choice. It’ s been said countless times and I’ ll say it in again
the: market You have
, but the
at front-row
least we seat
can to
make the greatest
sure their show
hands on earth
are out. of our wallets. These Also in are this not issue easy, you times will to read wear about a badge Kevin, as Lyons our country, the NJ wrestles State PBA-endorsed with issues of candidate race inequality for Retiree. Our Representative profession has to the experienced PFRS Trustee more Board changes. His in background the past few and years knowledge than we have about in
the pension history issues of modern speaks policing for itself. Some. He is of not it is one deserved of the, many but much candidates of it is not that. Regardless suddenly, jumped it is the cards into this we have race because been dealt the. You mood have struck the incredible him. Many opportunity of those candidates to leave here truly today have and no prove concept the critics of what wrong that. PFRS I hope Board that you does. as evidenced by their campaign materials. Kevin has been
Finally, and most importantly, is a message I’ ll leave for your well-being. This vocation that involved in union issues for decades and will bring that knowledge and passion to the PFRS
we’ ve chosen is not an easy one. We put this uniform on every day. We are the heroes and the knights
Board. If in
you shining
are a retiree armor. who Eventually
cares about, we forget
your to
pension take the
, make uniform
sure you off and
vote take
. And care
I hope
of ourselves will vote. The for pressures Kevin Lyons can mount. and feel overwhelming. Cops didn’ t ask for help years ago; they
you
feared Finally for, their we find jobs ourselves. Thankfully again, that in is another longer tragic the period case. There of law are enforcement an incredible officers number being of resources injured and out killed there. for As I us said if some at the day beginning you find that of the you month might, there need them will be. Please no street take protests advantage or of politicians them. You calling will never for justice have; to just deal officers with those and families issues alone mourning. There the are loss some of another incredible hero people. The out answer there to who this want insanity to help will us not. happen overnight, but the tide will change again. I pray it is
To my newest brothers and sisters of law enforcement: Good luck to you, your friends and much sooner than later.
your families that are joining you here today. You’ ve been well prepared by this Academy. May you Stay be blessed safe! dwith a long, healthy and, most important, safe career. d