PAX Centurion - May / June 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • June/July 2015 • Page 5 Vice President’s Message: Michael F. Leary, BPPA Vice President Honoring Top Cops and Remembering Fallen Police Officers As usual, I felt privileged to be a Boston Officer. I was also proud to see so many of us down there supporting our heroes and representing the BPD so well. Seeing the Law Enforcement Memorial was sobering, and sadly one of our own, taken way too soon, was added to the wall this year. Rest in Peace Dennis, and I pray your family found a little peace knowing you will be forever memorialized and remembered for paying the ultimate sacrifice. T his April, for the first time in my 24 years of being a police officer, I was able to attend PoliceWeek inWashington D.C. It was an honor to represent the B.P.P.A. and to be there when three of our own, Sergeant Joe Teahan, Officer Ryan Lenane, and Officer Billy Traft received their Top CopAwards. Hearing the events surrounding their incident at the award dinner, along with all the other recipient’s stories, was inspirational. As usual, I felt privi- leged to be a Boston Officer. I was also proud to see so many of us down there supporting our heroes and representing the BPD so well. Seeing the Law Enforcement Memorial was sobering, and sadly one of our own, taken way too soon, was added to the wall this year. Rest in Peace Dennis, and I pray your family found a little peace knowing you will be forever memorialized and remembered for paying the ultimate sacrifice. As many of you know, we have been getting our union food truck out to many events. It takes a team effort, and I’d like to recognize the hard work of those who have been going above and beyond in order to get the job done. Namely, Chris Broderick, Bob Colburn, Matt Carey, Jim Carnell, Dan McCarthy, Jeff Tobin, Mike Murphy, Joe Nee, Manny Canuto, Danny Fullam, Kevin Griffiths, Luis Lopez, Jim Doiron, Jim LaCroix, Jackie Rogers, Larry Calde- rone, Frank Ortiz, Dave Bianchetto, and Scott Lucas. Thank you guys for making it happen. If anyone is looking to get involved and wants to help out at any upcoming events, call the hall and let us know. We have had nothing but positive feedback and would like to continue to do it, after all, we need to take care of our own. One more thank you is in order to JimTzuibs of Jim’s Deli, located at 371Washington Street in Brighton Center. He was generous enough to donate bacon for the breakfast sandwiches served on Marathon Monday. He is the Harbor Unit Officer Jeff Tobin’s brother- in-law, so if you are in that area stop by and show support to our friend. The B.P.P.A. Annual Golf Tournament is fast approaching. This year it will be held at President’s Golf Course in Quincy on Thursday, August 27 th . It is an 8:00 am shotgun start. I hope to see as many of you there as possible, call the hall to reserve your spot. I am sure by now most of our membership knows we are look- ing to purchase a building on Freeport Street in Dorchester to serve as our new union hall. The House Of Representatives has given us the green light to pursue the property and while the process has just begun, I have high hopes and see it as a great opportunity for the B.P.P.A. The building has so much potential. It has over twenty offices and room for meetings, conferences, and arbitrations, as well as a warehouse that could be converted into a function hall. “Times for Friends” could be held there, retire- ment parties, birthday parties, you name it. Having this place or one similar to it would enable all of us to use our OWN hall, not someone else’s. No one reading this needs me to remind them that being a police officer today is as challenging and as dangerous as ever. That we are under the microscope more than ever. That recent events has proven that the “boys in blue” are under attack. But I am going to remind you to be as vigilant as ever and back each other up, we need to make sure everyone goes home at the end of their shift, safely. Whether you are performing a detail or effecting an arrest, whether you are off duty or on, stay alert and stay sharp. And while there seems to be no end to the public second guessing our every move, or the Monday morn- ing quarterbacking, or the protests and sometimes pure hatred, as seen in Roslindale, I want to remind you that we still are and always will be the good guys. We will always do more good than harm. I want to remind you to take a look around at all the positive things we do as individuals and as a department. I want to wish everyone a happy and safe summer. Hopefully everyone will enjoy some vacation time with their families and loved ones. We will be continuing to work hard at making our union stronger. We are coming up on being in office for six months, and so far I am pleased with the progress we have made. I hope you all are too. Be careful out there!