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Police urge public to tell NJ lawmakers: We’ll remember in November

EXCLUSIVE: Police in a North Jersey town have launched a bold letter-writing campaign urging state lawmakers to think twice before backing Gov. Christie’s plans to cut police salary and pensions while hiking their health insurance costs — or face rejection at the polls this fall. (You can print a copy here to send to your local legislator.)

Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot
Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot
Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot
Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot
Photo Credit: Cliffview Pilot

CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM PHOTO

“Municipal police officers, county sheriff officers, county and state corrections officers, and the numerous officers that serve our state parks and colleges have all come under attack and are being vilified by the Governor’s administration and the media,” says the letter, prepared and distributed by members of the Andover Township F.O.P. Lodge #177. “I want you to know clearly where I stand on the issues facing New Jersey’s Law Enforcement Officers.”

The crisis in the state pension system, in particular, was “created solely by elected officials, both past and present, who for their own political reasons, failed to meet their statutory obligation to fund the pension system as mandated by law,” says the letter, forwarded to CLIFFVIEW PILOT for distribution. “This failure to fund the pension system is a violation of the government’s moral and legal requirements.” 

What’s more, it says, issues such as pay, pension and health benefits should be resolved through collective bargaining, including binding arbitration — not by budgets or laws drawn up by the governor and voted on by the legislators.

Which brings you to the kicker:

I will vote in the November General Election for candidates who share my views and will represent my concerns. I will encourage all my friends and family to vote in support of the candidates who will represent those views,” the letter says, “and oppose any candidate who would deny these rights to the men and woman who protect our society.”

The officers are distributing the letter to their colleagues statewide — be they local or county police, sheriff’s or corrections officers or other law enforcement personnel affected by Christie’s ax-swinging.

“Now is not the time to worry about who is a member of the F.O.P. or P.B.A., a police officer, sheriff officer, or corrections officer,” the union members say in a separate mailing to their uniformed colleagues. “We all go to work every day and put ourselves at risk for the community and all work to protect the public and accomplish the same mission and goal.

“Please join us in forwarding this letter to all your members, coworkers, family, and friends.”

The goal is for all law enforcement supporters to print out and sign copies, then mail them to their local state lawmakers. You could also email yours.

For a copy of the letter that you can print out, sign and mail, CLICK HERE: Letter to NJ Legislator

For a listing of state lawmakers by town or district, CLICK HERE: Listing of state Legislators

(Once you’re there, scroll down the page a bit. You’ll be able to find what you need by working the sides.)

“If we do not work together now,” the Andover officers warn their colleagues, “we will only have ourselves to blame later.”


MORE (Click on the headlines to read):

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Christie campaign letter promised ‘no harm’ to police, firefighter pensions

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Gov. Christie

Christie a wanna-be union buster among many in U.S.

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EDITORIAL: I’ve tried not to connect the horrors visited on sworn law enforcement officers and their loved ones nationwide this year with Gov. Chris Christie’s assault on New Jersey’s public servants, out of respect for those injured and killed, but his calling on police unions Monday — of ALL days — to make concessions for the sake of public safety is plain insensitive.



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Veteran cop takes on Christie, draws raves

Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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Police statewide are haili

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