President Tony Wieners’ Message

 


As this magazine is being delivered to our members and the rest of the law enforcement community in New Jersey, many of us are packing up, pedaling to or planning to go to Washington DC and commemorate National Police Week.


During the week there will be many things to do and plenty of activities to participate in. Things like parades and parties give us an opportunity to celebrate our profession and the fellowship that bonds us. Bagpipes, motorcycles, antique police cars, vendors and bands will entertain us and make for a memorable trip.


But behind the scenes a more solemn tone exists, as the survivors of the fallen make their trip to the National Law Enforcement Memorial to celebrate the lives and mourn the loss of their heroes. Some, for the first time will see the memorial, and look at the name of their loved one engraved in it. They will see for the first time the thousands of officers, family members, friends and supporters gather and hold high a candle in the dark in memory of those taken from us in the line of duty. This is the real Police Week and we must never forget that.


We will also congratulate our comrades who preformed amazing feats of heroism during the preceding year at the annual NAPO TOP COPS Awards. This year, Capt. Mark McGrath of the Wayne Police Department and Wayne PBA Local 136 will be honored for risking his life in the rescue of a fellow officer. His story can be seen on page 34 of this issue. Please join with me in congratulating him and all of the TOP COPS recipients.


You will also see in this issue that the Camden PBA Local 35, at the request of apparently hundreds of newly made Camden County Police Officers is collecting cards and conducting meetings with them regarding representation. With the new department comes the opportunity for the officers to choose who will represent them in collective bargaining and who will provide them with legal protection and other association benefits.


As you know, the Camden City Police force was abolished and the new Metro Division has taken its place. Regardless of how we all feel about how it came about or the success or failure of the department, the members must be protected. I have no desire to take a shot from the cheap seats and say that what has occurred would have been any different if the PBA had been the Majority Representative for the City Police. I will however focus on the future and stand firmly behind the efforts of Camden Local 35 in their campaign to gain those rights. 


Lastly, our most sincere condolences go out to the citizens of Boston and the first responders who made the valiant effort to rescue those injured and killed by the terrorist attack on the Boston Marathon and the ensuing effort to capture those responsible. Sean Collier, 26, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus police lost his life and Officer Richard H. Donohue Jr., of the MBTA Transit Police was critically wounded in that search, please keep them in your prayers.

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  • V.P. Keith Dunn's corner

  • PBA Salutes Boston                 

    The tragedy that occurred at the Boston Marathon last month is just another reminder that the “war against terror” is far from over and that at any time, we can all be on the front line.  Two radical and deeply disturbed brothers decided to pick Patriots Day in Massachusetts and its most symbolic event, the running of the marathon in the capitol city of Boston, to unleash their evil and detonate bombs.  Three innocent people were killed and nearly two hundred with bodily injuries, some life threatening and multiple amputees. 
    Local, state and federal law enforcement teamed up in an effort to track down the most wanted person or persons in the world.  Video surveillance uncovered by relentless investigators revealed that it was two cowardly males whose pictures were than posted on every news network.  A law enforcement officer (MIT Campus Police Officer Sean Collier) was shot and killed by one of these cold blooded terrorists just days after the bombing, as the net was closing in on the two thugs.  The manhunt intensified after a carjacking and chase into neighboring Watertown, where suspect #1 (or scumbag #1- whichever you prefer) was killed after a gun battle with police and being driven over by his brother, who was now more infamously known as scumbag #2 (I prefer the later).  This act of driving over his own sibling is probably the only worthwhile action either brother took while alive.
    The region went on lockdown with businesses closed, schools and colleges were cancelled, and professional sporting events postponed, as law enforcement continued their pursuit.  A call from a resident who went into the backyard and saw blood on his boat cover would prove to be the final piece that law enforcement would need.  More gunfire was exchanged, but police finally were able to take the surviving terrorist into custody, who had serious blood loss from gunshot wounds.  One of his wounds may have been self inflicted, so scumbag #2 might have actually done one other meaningful act in life aside from making his brother a pancake. Ironically the first responders who he sought to kill and defy were now acting to save his sorry life and hopefully get some good “intel” from him on how and why this plot was played out (and was anyone else involved).
    The city of Boston took a deep breath and so could the surrounding communities.  But not for long, as law enforcement is all too well aware that an act like this can happen at any place at any given time.  From Oklahoma City to Columbine, Aurora Movie Theatre to the countless plots unfolded by good police work- the public must work together with police officers who will remain front and center to battle the terrorists (domestic or international).   Boston deserved the great day that Fenway provided for the fans the afternoon following the final capture, as Neil Diamond sang their anthem “Sweet Caroline” and the Red Sox fittingly came back to beat the Royals. 
    --For those who know me and are wondering about my baseball allegiance with this Red Sox and “Sweet Caroline” stuff that I am wring about- fear not- just as the Marathon will continue, so too will the greatest rivalry in sports.  The Royals swept the Sawx the next day, and Sinatra’s “New York New York” will always be the best team anthem.  2004 still burns me up and I will take Babe, Bucky Bleeping Dent and the 27 championships any day (you can have Clemens back).  But Red Sox Nation stood tall during the Marathon bombing and the events that unfolded in the days that followed, and true fans respect and appreciate that from their team and the city that so proudly supports them.    B STRONG.
    So as we enter Police Week and the events that surround it, my thanks to the men and women of the Boston Police Department and every other law enforcement agency that assisted in the killing or capture of the terrorists who attempted to hold them hostage while taking innocent young lives and maiming so many others. The Boston Marathon will take place next year on Patriots Day, bigger and better than ever, but forever changed because of this senseless act. 

 

Rob Nixon's legislative news

 

State PBA Legislation Watch List

Endorsements and the PBA

Even though the 2013 election season is still in its earliest stages a flurry of endorsements in the Governor’s race have been handed out.  Many of these endorsements have made the front page – Building Trades for the Governor, public employee groups for Barbara Buono.  One major endorsement that is lacking in any race up to this point is that of the State PBA. 

Historically the State PBA does not make endorsements before the Primary Election is held in any race.  This has been a guide for decades with very few special exceptions (Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. last year is the lone exception in recent memory due to the merging of 2 Congressional Districts following redistricting).   This ensures the State PBA doesn’t get entangled in the often messy inner party fighting of a primary election.  Primaries by their design are open to members of the individual political parties to choose their own party candidates to run in the General Election in November.  Since State PBA members are Republicans, Democrats and Unaffiliated, endorsing before a Primary needs to be done with laser focus of members within that District and of the political party in question.  One thing that is certain is that the State PBA supports candidates that support its members without concern about their party affiliation.

The State PBA also focuses heavily on individual candidates records while in office.  Any elected official can promise you anything they want in a questionnaire or speech but their actions in office spell out whether that person actually did what they said they would.  Since this session still has a few months before they start their summer recess (in June) and a number of issues remain outstanding, a pre-primary endorsement (the Primary is also in June) would pre-judge a lot of what still remains to be sorted out. 

In addition, traditionally, the State PBA makes its endorsements for State and Legislative offices in the Fall during the Annual Convention.  This ensures that the candidates for Legislature (or other State office) have had an opportunity to meet with and allow State PBA leaders to make a thorough examination of their records.  The timing also allows for meaningful dialogue between the candidates for major offices (Governor, US Senate, etc.) and the State PBA.

An endorsement means different things to different candidates.  Some view it as a validation of teamwork and mutual loyalty.  Some candidates see it as a piece in building a coalition from which money and volunteers can be taken.  And some collect endorsements like baseball cards – great to collect and say you have but which have very little meaning to others.  Groups that make endorsements also have different reasons and wants for doing so as well.

The State PBA has long viewed endorsements as something to be given that has been earned and not something to be taken for granted.  The State PBA has made endorsements only to take it away in the next election.  Sometimes the State PBA will stand with an elected official after a “bad vote” because their overall record has been truly great.  In the end, for an endorsement to mean something it has to come with a true commitment on both sides of the support.  But it also has to come with a commitment of State PBA members to work together to support the candidates endorsed by the PBA Executive Board and Board of Delegates.  An endorsement is meaningless, which translates into the organization being meaningless, if large numbers of members ignore the recommendation! 

So as the State PBA moves through April without making endorsements it should not be a surprise to the membership.  These matters will be carefully analyzed and discussed in their right time.  Until then, members should pay attention to what is going on in the political world around them.  The election in November will be upon us soon enough.

 

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From the desk of John Hulse


The deadline for submissions for the June 2013 issue of NJ COPS Magazine is Monday, May 27, 2013


NJ COPS Magazine

contains a great deal of information about laws, proposed legislation and situations relating to and affecting working conditions of New Jersey Law Enforcement Officers. But more importantly, it contains news and photos from our individual Local Associations.
Promotions, newly elected Local leaders, charity events, all of the happenings within your communities are great news items that we should share with everyone reading our publication.
Please send your articles and photos to PBA Editor John Hulse at news@njspba.com