NJSPBA PRESIDENT COLLIGAN’S STATEMENT ON “A PROPER TRIBUTE” PROCESSION AND SERVICE
WOODBRIDGE – New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Pat Colligan released the following statement on today’s procession and non-denominational service for the families of the 45 public safety officials who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three-mile long procession had well over 100 vehicles and 25 motor units and began at the PNC Arts Center parking lot before reaching its destination at Epic Church in Sayreville for a non-denominational service honoring the fallen and their families. Over 30 Honor Guards participated and State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan served as Master of Ceremony, joined by Attorney General Matt Platkin and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.
Viewers lined Parkway overpasses to view the procession and pay tribute to the fallen officials.
Said President Colligan: “I would like to thank everyone who participated in today’s procession, anyone who joined us at Epic Church and also the many people who took a moment to pay their respects to our fallen brothers and sisters on the Parkway today. Superintendent Callahan’s words were a true inspiration and I know the families we honored today will never forget the outpouring of emotion and support put forward by so many.
We were proud to have the opportunity to partner with so many other public safety representatives to give the 45 public safety professionals and their families the proper tribute they deserved. These brave men and women were not afforded the ability to work remotely or ‘Zoom’ to their calls and, instead, they were directly on the front lines in the middle of the global pandemic.
Their professionalism and bravery were emblematic of so many thousands of health care workers and other essential workers who continued to bravely go to work each day, even as COVID-19 tore through our neighborhoods and ravaged the health of communities across New Jersey and the world.
Today’s procession and service are something I will never forget. My hope is that the affected family members we had the opportunity to honor will always carry with them the appreciation and respect we have for the ultimate sacrifice their loved ones made in service to their community.”
Following are the public safety officials that were honored today:
Latasha Andrews New Jersey State Police
Luis Andujar Cumberland City Corrections
Robert Bell Burlington County Corrections
Vincent Butler New Jersey Department of Corrections
Irving Callender III Newark Police Department
Richard Campbell Edison Division of Fire
Michael Clegg Newark Police Department
Michael Connors Newark Police Department
Zeb Craig Hudson County Corrections
Christopher Cronin Old Bridge Police Department
Gerard Eick Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
Rocco Ferraro New Jersey State Police
David Formeza Perth Amboy Police Department
Daniel Francis Newark Police Department
Tolbert Furr Newark Police Department
Maria & Dwayne Gibbs New Jersey Department of Corrections
Joseph Goertz Lakewood Police Department
Matthew Horton Ocean County Sheriff’s Department
Vincent Intiso East Orange Fire Department
Edward Jamandron New Jersey Department of Corrections
Daniel Krupa New Jersey Department of Correction
Brian McAdams Sr. Newark Police Department
Robert McCormack New Jersey Department of Corrections
Richard T. McKnight Newark Police Department
Robert Miller Clifton Police Department
Hector Moya Newark Police Department
Alterek Patterson Bedminster Police Department
Al Mustafa Pearson Essex County Corrections
Nelson Perdomo New Jersey Department of Corrections
James Peri Bloomfield Police Department
John Phelan Paterson Police Department
Matthew Razukas New Jersey State Police
Charles Roberts Glen Ridge Police Department
Alex Ruperto Union City Police Department
Julius Sabo New Jersey State Police
Francesco Scorpo Paterson Police Department
Marcus Thomas Newark Police Department
Israel Tolentino Passaic Fire Department
Matthew Vogel Hudson County Sheriff’s
Bernard Wadell Sr. Hudson County Corrections
Gary Walker Bloomingdale Police Department
Lowery Ware Department of Homeland Security
Erick Whitaker New Jersey Department of Corrections
Shawn Williams Hudson County Corrections
The National Anthem was performed by Sgt. Melissa Rose from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Welcome to Epic Church and Invocation was done by Pastor John Wagner, Epic Church.
Invited Keynote Speakers were Speaker Coughlin, General Platkin and Lisa Preslar of the Garden State Concerns of Police Survivors.
Rabbi Mendy Charlebach of Rutgers Chabad led a Spiritual Reading of the Old Testament.
Monsignor Geno Sylva from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist led a Spiritual Reading of the New Testament.
New Jersey United Pipe Bands performed Amazing Grace.
Pastor James Powderley of the Brigantine Bible Church provided Words of Inspiration.
The Stafford Township Police Department provided the Gun Salute.
Taps, Robert Krupinski, (Ret), Bergen County Sheriff’s Department.
Closing Words of Hope were delivered by Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, Greek Orthodox Archidiocese of America.
The New Jersey United Pipe Bands played God Bless America.
Today’s service was jointly sponsored by: County Prosecutors Association of New Jersey - New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police - New Jersey Career Fire Chiefs Association - New Jersey Concerns of Police Survivors - New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association - New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association - New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police - New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association - New Jersey State Troopers Superior Officers’ Association - New Jersey Survivors of the Triangle - Police Unity Tour - Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey - Sheriffs Association of New Jersey - State Troopers NCO Association - State Troopers Fraternal Association