Volunteers Honored By PBA For Efforts During Hurricane Irene

On Nov. 10, the members of the awarded two Honorary PBA Memberships to Gerry Grillo and Jeff Scotti for their efforts in assisting the men and women of the Cranford PBA after the Cranford Police Department building was destroyed during Hurricane Irene.

Shortly after the flood waters receded and recovery efforts began, the damage to the police department was surveyed. Officers lost police equipment, had no place to take a break and had no place to eat. Downtown food establishments in Cranford were either flooded or without power. Officers’ own homes were damaged. Gerry Grillo and Jeff Scotti of in Cranford, another downtown business that fell victim to the flood, organized a rehabilitation tent including food and beverage service on the front lawn of the now disabled municipal building.

Gerry and Jeff tirelessly solicited donations from their contacts and cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire police department. Officers who were responding from one devastating call to another now had the ability to take a brief break to eat, drink and rest. For over one solid week, these two men stepped forward and took time away from their families and livelihood to help Cranford Police Officers - and eventually all municipal employees - for one reason:  It was the right thing to do.

"Cranford PBA is fortunate enough to have such allies in our community that are willing to go above and beyond for Cranford cops because they believe in the work that we do. That support drives our organization forward," Cranford PBA President Matt Nazzaro said.