for Peers
Burkert’s legacy inspires Pellegrino to take over as Peer Liaison Committee Chair
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
Taking over as chair of the highly-intense, always-on-the-job, lifesaving NJ State PBA Peer Liaison Committee compelled Mike Pellegrino to draw a prodigious conclusion about the endeavor:
“I’ll never be Kenny Burkert,” conceded Pellegrino, who assumed
leadership of the omnipresent Peer Liaison Committee in June
when Burkert concluded his illustrious career as a corrections
officer, NJ State PBA leader and relentless driver of the peer group
effort that has helped so many members dealing with issues that
lead to addiction, troubles at home, troubles on the job…and worse.
“What Kenny has done has been
pure greatness in what the organization
has needed to help members deal
with everything that is going on.
I will try to emulate Kenny as much
as possible, and I just hope to do
half the job he has done.”
MIKE PELLEGRINO
Ken Burkert, left, and Mike Pellegrino
In addition to training many members in the Question-PersuadeRefer (QPR) method that teaches recognizing the signs of addiction,
trouble at home…and worse, the Peer Liaison Committee has
worked hard to reduce the stigma that admitting needing help is a
show of weakness for officers. That’s a mindset, Burkert says, that
leads to saving a lot of marriages, jobs and lives.
“What Kenny has done has been pure greatness in what the
organization has needed to help members deal with everything that
is going on. I will try to emulate Kenny as much as possible, and I
just hope to do half the job he has done.”
He adds that he is proud of the passion he brought to peer assistance, and he believes Pellegrino brings the same intensity. Burkert
and Pellegrino have built a close professional friendship through
serving as NJ State PBA 6th and 7th Vice President,