NJ Cops May 2014 | Page 37

NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MAY 2014 COVER STORY 37 So this is Pat in his day job as chief of the Florham Park PD. To the 14,000-plus Tour riders who have crossed the finish line, he will always be our chief. And this, of course, is NJ State PBA President Tony Wieners. He is John Wayne on a bicycle. He culminated his career with his third Tour in 2014. Said he was riding his farewell for all 32,000-plus members of the PBA as well as the 25,000plus names on the wall. Meet Mike Pellegrino whom you know as the Ewing Township Local 111 Sate Delegate. He’s been riding since 9-11. Just did his 12th three months after hip replacement. He always tells me, “Harry, once you start riding you just can’t stop.” Yes, this is Lisa Preslar, the Garden State C.O.P President. .S. She rides for her husband, Lakewood Officer Niche, who we lost six years ago. She worries about her riding reminding officers about what could happen to them. She is why we ride. Everybody knows Pat Colligan from the great work he is doing with pension and benefits for the State PBA. He is Jim Belushi in bike pants. With legs like RoboCop. The bookends here are Newark Bike Patrol officer Hernandez Thomas and Berkeley Heights Local 144 officer Mark Stallone, who teaches bike patrol at the Union County Police Academy. They have ridden the most times. The last cutout magically turns into a real person. This guy needs no introduction. It’s John Hulse. Hulse steps off his bike, puts his arm around Harry, cues the music for the Eagles’ “Life in the Fast Lane” and the lights go dim. He clears his throat. We are fortunate to have Harry Phillips. When you chisel through his exterior that’s as hard as that wall at the memorial, inside you find