PBA Day in Trenton – March 26, 2018
Take it to the State House
Members should make third PBA Day in Trenton the biggest ever
n BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
To fully comprehend the you-don’t-want-to-miss-this jubi-
lation and the plan-now-to-get-on-the-bus magnitude of the
third NJ State PBA Day at the State Legislature on March 26,
stroll back to the previous two events in Trenton.
The first-ever PBA Day at the State House on Oct. 16, 2014
certainly gave members an important sense of what goes on in
Trenton and showed legislators that PBA members are willing
to come to Trenton to stand up for their rights. That is how PBA
Director of Government Affairs Rob Nixon described the event,
after more than 200 members clad in their PBA attire attended
committee hearings and filled the balcony of the State House
for an Assembly voting session.
Legislators expressed how impressed they were by members’
professionalism and that they were willing to travel from all
parts of the state on their day off, or right after coming off a mid-
night tour, to participate. Assemblyman Gordon Johnson from
Teaneck added just how important it was for PBA members to
make this trek.
“Just as it is important for local law enforcement officers to
have a relationship with their local councils, it is equally im-
portant that the union has this dialogue with state legislators,”
Johnson explained. “We don’t know everything when it comes
to police work. You’re in the streets all the time, and we want to
hear what we can do to make your job more efficient, safer and
what resources we can bring to make sure you get home at the
end of your shift.”
As State President Pat Colligan assesses his middle-of-the-
night brainstorm that led to the first PBA Day in Trenton, he
came to two conclusions that continue to drive the union’s
overwhelmingly successful political action.
“I think a lot of people were surprised at how simple the pro-
cess is,” Colligan commented that October day. “They knew we
were there. They know that we might not be the largest group,
but we will be one of the most active.”
The second PBA Day in Trenton on March 3, 2016 featured a
State Senate Law and Public Safety Committee meeting. Pres-
ident Colligan anticipated such a big turnout that he called
ahead and asked that this session be moved to the biggest meet-
ing room in the State House.
But that still couldn’t hold the mass of members who not only
showed up for that 1:30 p.m. meeting but were there an hour
before the State House opened.
“About 8:30 or so, we had 40 or 50 guys,” Executive Vice Pres-
ident Marc Kovar noted that day. “Then, a busload of members
shows up. Then another. And another. At this point, I’m think-
ing we’re on our way to having 500 or more people show up. It
made me really proud.”
A member of North Brunswick Local 160 was so determined
to attend the 2016 PBA Day that even though he was charged
with childcare duty, he brought his infant son sporting a “Lil
Rookie” bib. New Jersey’s elected officials have learned that
they are not playing with kids when it comes to the PBA, and
on March 26 when PBA Day 3 is scheduled, Colligan is asking
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ FEBRUARY 2018
An overflow crowd of members filled the Senate Law and Public Safety
Committee meeting on PBA Day at the State Legislature in March 2016.
The inaugural PBA Day in Trenton in October 2014 featured more than 200
members attending.
members to take political action to an even higher level of en-
gagement.
Both the Senate and Assembly have committee hearings set
for that day, which is a rarity. With so many elected officials in
the building, the PBA president is calling for Locals that will be
attending to schedule individual meetings with their senators
and Assembly reps to make the PBA presence even more per-
sonal and memorable.
“We want them to hear from their own constituents,” Colli-
gan directed. “Tell them how you feel about the impact Chapter
78 is having. Tell them how you feel about the 2-percent arbi-
tration cap. Let’s build our political capital by showing up and
having the face-to-face meetings.”
He understands some of the trepidation members who have
not really engaged face-to-face with their reps might be feeling.
Colligan felt it too, back in 2014. But he found a simple solution
to get over that feeling.
“I realized they put their underwear on the same way we do,”
he quipped. “There’s nobody mean in Trenton. Not anymore.
The last mean guy left Trenton on Jan. 16.” d