Hackensack PBA raises funds for family dislocated by fire
Friday, July 20, 2012
BY MARK J. BONAMO
MANAGING EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle
The Hackensack chapter of the Policemen's Benevolent Association is raising funds for a retired officer whose family is dealing with hardships not from the aftereffects of a crime, but a fire.
A three-alarm blaze decimated a two-story home at 265 Clinton Place in Hackensack on May 26.
The house, which fire officials have designated for demolition, happened to be the childhood home of retired city Police Officer Bill Novak, a 25-year veteran of the force. Novak's parents, who were living in the house at the time of the fire, escaped injury but were forced to relocate.
Novak's mother and father are now living in a nursing home and assisted living facility respectively, waiting for the insurance payment for their lost home that will help them make the next step.
Police Officer John Herrmann, president of PBA Local 9, which includes the Hackensack Police Department, felt that the time was now for other officers to step up to help one of the community's own.
"The family is having a bit of a hard time right now, and apparently insurance hasn't done much for them yet," said Herrmann, who was elected PBA Local 9 president last month. "We feel like this is the right thing to do."
Herrmann noted that individual members of the police force have collectively raised $1,000 for Novak's family, with another $500 coming directly from the local union chapter.
"We feel as a local that it's our job to help our brothers and sisters in their time of need," Herrmann added. "We want to make sure that from now on, we take care of our members, past and present."
Email: bonamo@northjersey.com