Take a sneak peek into NJ COPS Magazine’s July 2015 cover story and look at some of the headlines NJ State PBA President Pat Colligan and Executive Vice-President Marc Kovar made during their first year of leadership. For their full reactions to making headlines, turn to NJ COPS Magazine’s July 2015 issue.
Legislators praise PBA support on Election Day
The first initiative President Colligan announced targeted building, or rebuilding, relationships with every senator and assembly rep in the state legislature. At the time he and Kovar didn’t know where this effort would lead exactly, but a big payoff came with the impact members made on June 2 by staging a big effort to support PBA-centric candidates who needed help to win their primary elections.
PBA members come to Trenton for a day they will never forget
Another brainstorm that came up 20 minutes or so after taking office called for PBA Day at the state legislature on Oct. 16. Colligan asked Locals to send groups to attend committee meetings and a general assembly meeting after lunch. The idea was for legislators to see women and men clad in their PBA shirts walking the halls and letting them know the organization was going to be a presence.
Rallying to make a stand against the governor in LBI
The governor announced he was having a “Town Hall” meeting on the hallowed ground in Long Beach Island where PBA members combined with FMBA and NJEA members to build one of the playgrounds as part of the Where Angels Play movement on July 22. He arrived to find an alliance of law enforcement officers, firefighters and teachers gathered for a rally to show the strength of public employees amidst his rhetoric.
Atlantic City PD merger defeated
Atlantic City Local 24 called the NJ State PBA in March asking for help to thwart an Atlantic County effort to execute a Camden County-type merger of law enforcement officers.
Unanimous approval for NJSPBA PAC Fund
To bring more bite to the political action the organization had taken through the first six months of their leadership, Colligan and Kovar heard that a Political Action Committee (PAC) Fund would be the best move. They had been mulling bringing the concept to the membership since the annual convention in September.
PBA a perfect fit for new Salem County Corrections Local
The first PBA Local in Salem County realized it had to vote to leave the other labor organization in a PERC Election in December after a team from the state office made a moving presentation.
Union-Hudson prison regionalization defeated
In April, Union County Freeholders were on the verge of voting to close the county corrections facility and combine with operations in Hudson County.