NEW JERSEY NEWS FRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE Fall 2019 GOOD TIMES ON THE GREEN GEORGE BOWMANSEE PAGE TK GOLF CLASSIC SEE PAGE 20 NEW JERSEY NEW JERSEY NEWS F PNEWS F PFRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE NEW JERSEY NEW JERSEY NEWS F PNEWS FOPFRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE NEW JERSEY NEW JERSEY NEWS F PNEWS FRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE FRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE FALL 2019 NEW JERSEY NEW JERSEY CONTENTSNEWS F PNEWS FRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE FRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE TheNEW New Jersey JERSEY FOP News is published NEW JERSEY 14th Annual George quarterly by New Jersey FOP Newspaper, NEWS 20 Bowman Golf Classic FInc., a subsidiary P of the State Lodge. It is an FRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE FRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE independent commercial publication sanctioned 64th Biennial National by the NJ FOP and is mailed on a complimentary 22 FOP Conference basis to all members and advertisers. NEW JERSEY Reproduction of any part of the New Jersey FOP News for commercial purposes without NEWS FOPFRATERNAL ORDER of POLICE permission is strictly prohibited. STATE LODGE NEWS NEW JERSEY NEW JERSEY From the President’s Desk .........................................................................................................................4 New Jersey FOP News, Inc. NEW JERSEY 108FOP West State Street FOP From the Executive Board...........................................................................................................................6 Trenton,NEWS NJ 08608 NEWS DoFO Free SpeechP andFRATERNAL First ORDERAmendment of POLICE Protections Exist for Police in the Age of Phone: (609) 599-1222 Social Media?............................................................................................................................................. 10 Fax: (609) 599-1221 State Launches Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement ..............................................................11 NJ FOP STATE LODGE Remembering 9/11.....................................................................................................................................12 OFFICERS Canadian Police Memorial........................................................................................................................12 President Robert W. Fox Executive Vice President Robert Gries Camden County Blue Mass Fundraiser ................................................................................................14 Vice President James Stewart Members Honored With IACP Award ...................................................................................................14 Corresponding Secretary Wayne Winkler NJ FOP President Attends 9/11 Bill Signing...................................................................................... 16 Treasurer George Kline President Fox Featured in National FOP Magazine........................................................................... 16 Recording Secretary James Ford Sergeant at Arms Ken Hawkins State Lodge Awards ..................................................................................................................................17 Chaplain Kevin Karcher National Trustee Kevin Vernon Past Presidents: Ed Brannigan, Rick Whelan, John Sisto, DEPARTMENTS Jim Forcinito Director of Member Services Robert Monahan Grand Lodge Updates.............................................................................................................................. 18 FOP State Legal Counsel A.J. Fusco Jr., P.A. Dear Steph .................................................................................................................................................. 24 The Richman Report................................................................................................................................. 26 Legally Speaking........................................................................................................................................ 28 Eye on Trenton............................................................................................................................................ 30 911MEDIA® is a division of LOCAL LODGE NEWS Trade News International, Inc. New Lodge Officers and New Contract .............................................................................................. 32 Published by 911MEDIA® National Night Out..................................................................................................................................... 32 For Advertising call (609) 270-0202 Riding to Remember Those Who Died................................................................................................. 33 911MEDIA.com Strength and Service................................................................................................................................ 33 Past, Present and New Officers Honored........................................................................................... 34 Line-of-Duty Death Recognized 87 Years Later................................................................................. 35 Events and Honors .................................................................................................................................... 36 A Festival and a Forum ............................................................................................................................. 38 FALL 2019 NJ FOP NEWS 3 Looking Ahead After a Summer of Success hope that all of you and your families had of the Year at the September Board of Direc- NJ FOP PRESIDENT a wonderful summer. tors meeting. The Lodge of the Year is Cape ROBERT W. FOX I’m happy to report that, at the May County Lodge #7, for their ongoing FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK PRESIDENT’S THE FROM INational FOP Conference in New Orleans hard work for more than a decade of run- in August, Kevin Vernon was re-elected as ning and hosting the Special Olympics Polar the National Trustee for the state of New Bear Plunge in Wildwood. Their hard work Jersey. Elections were also held for the new has given many athletes the enjoyment of Board of Directors of the Grand Lodge. Two participating in the Special Olympics. The of our endorsed candidates won their respec- Member of the Year is Marc Morgan, who tive elections — National President Patrick stepped up and volunteered to work as my Yoes and Vice President Joe Gamaldi. I look appointment to the new Board of the Police/ forward to working with the new leadership Fire Pension System. Marc’s hard work and of the National FOP Board regarding issues tireless efforts — often using his own time I was honored to that affect New Jersey law enforcement on a from work — to help secure pensions for all national level. our retirees is beyond reproach. be present when One such pending issue is the removal We are continuing to work on H.R. 218 “ or correction of a plaque in the National to get our members the rights they deserve Governor Murphy Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, under federal law. The FOP has hired an D.C., concerning the members of the Cam- attorney to investigate this matter and to signed two state den Police Department. The plaque states, do what it takes to ensure the rights of law “The Police Department was overwhelmed enforcement officers in New Jersey. I should bills that give more and riddled with corruption.” There has been have more to report on this by our Decem- some movement on this issue, spearheaded ber Board of Directors meeting. medical and workers’ by National President Pat Yoes, but it has not Recently, we hired a new director of yet been resolved. We continue to pursue member services, Robert Monahan. Bob is compensation the matter and hope some additional action a retired detective of the Voorhees Police occurs soon so that our members from Cam- Department and has taken over after Steve rights to the first den are not demoralized any further. Szypulski retired due to medical issues. I am Over the summer months, I was honored sure Bob will do an excellent job. responder survivors to be present when Governor Murphy signed Our Legislative Committee has done a into law two state bills that give more medi- lot of work with our endorsements to get of the 9/11 tragedy. cal and workers’ compensation rights to the the right people elected to protect our law first responder survivors of the 9/11 tragedy. enforcement rights. I ask that all the mem- This legislation took 18 years and went before bers of the State FOP vote in the November several governors before Governor Murphy election this year. signed it into law. A couple of weeks after that In closing, the location of our March Board signing, I was among the representatives from of Directors meeting and Mini-Convention law enforcement groups invited to a recep- will be changed from Bally’s to the Tropicana tion in the White House Rose Garden, where in Atlantic City. As president of the State President Donald Trump signed into law a bill Lodge, I made the choice to better accom- to help our law enforcement community in modate our members. I hope that my change funding the National 9/11 Fund for decades to will result in positive feedback after the March come. This was a good summer in New Jersey meeting events. and Washington, D.C., helping our members As we head into the fall season, stay ” who have become ill after this tragic event. healthy and safe. NJ I was honored to announce my selections for the 2019 Lodge of the Year and Member 4 NJ FOP NEWS FALL 2019 No Tax on Pensions in the State of Tennessee When signing up check the “Service Members” check-box