[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E579-E580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE RETIREMENT OF MR. PATRICK COLLIGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE 
          NEW JERSEY STATE POLICEMAN'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSH GOTTHEIMER

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 3, 2024

  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Patrick 
Colligan on his retirement as President of the New Jersey Policeman's 
Benevolent Association or New Jersey State PBA. Over his decade-long 
tenure as New Jersey State PBA President, Mr. Colligan has stood out as 
a passionate advocate for law enforcement across the state. Personally, 
he has been a friend and trusted advisor on key bipartisan bills like 
the Invest to

[[Page E580]]

Protect Act. Mr. Colligan's tireless advocacy on behalf of New Jersey 
police will be honored and appreciated for years to come.
  Patrick Colligan began his career in law enforcement in August 1992 
at the age of 27 with the Franklin Township Police Department He 
graduated from Class 9-92 of the Somerset County Police Academy, where 
he served as class president and was the recipient of an academy 
leadership award.
  During his law enforcement career, Patrick received more than a dozen 
awards, citations, and commendations. He is a founding member of the 
County Firewatch Program, a preventive program for juvenile fire 
setters. He also is a charter member of the County Arson Task Force. 
During his storied thirty-year career in law enforcement, Patrick has 
worked on and has taken part in thousands of investigations as a 
Detective from thefts to homicides.
  On July 1, 2014, Patrick became President of the 32,000-member-strong 
New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, one of the largest 
in the country. In his capacity as PBA President, Patrick has developed 
very strong relationships throughout New Jersey. Within just a few 
years in his role, Patrick made a significant mark on the organization. 
Since 2017, he has been consistently ranked in the Insider NJ ``100 
Policymaker Power List'' and the NJ Globe ``100 Power List.''
  Patrick was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine to the Task Force on 
Police Suicides, which developed a successful video and program to 
curtail what was an alarming trend of police suicides. Governor Corzine 
also appointed him to the New Jersey Public Employment Relations 
Commission (PERC) where he proudly served from 2009 to 2011.
  I salute Mr. Colligan for his steadfast leadership of New Jersey 
State PBA and his lifelong commitment to public service. He has notched 
an amazing record of legislative accomplishments that help keep our 
communities safe and ensure law enforcement have the resources they 
need to protect and serve. Jersey is truly lucky to have Patrick as a 
champion of what I believe are the greatest law enforcement officers in 
the country. I wish him a restful retirement with his wife, Lynette, 
and his wonderful family.

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