Thank You, NJSP Colonel Patrick Callahan and Kevin Walls

There’s been so much bad news during the Coronavirus world health pandemic.

Here’s a good news story.

Together, we are New Jersey Strong!

This is how important things get done, with mutual respect and cooperation.

Patrick K. Hurley is the President and Chief Executive Officer of COPS, LLC Private Investigations and Security.

Pat, along with Mario Suarez advised me that they had a critical need. Both Hurley and Suarez are former distinguished Atlantic City Police Officers (retired).

Their company provides important security protection for various clients, including all of The Village Shoprite Supermarkets.

This is especially important during the Coronavirus pandemic, as they need to get more staff approved to work quickly.

This requires access to the New Jersey State Police SORA Unit website.

The power of live and local talk radio has once again demonstrated its positive impact in our community.

Thankfully, Kevin Walls was listening to our program and heard about this critical need.

Walls is a former New Jersey State Trooper and a former long-time Atlantic City Casino Director of Security.

On his own, Walls promptly communicated directly with Colonel Patrick Callahan, Superintendent New Jersey State Police, who is also the State Director of Emergency Management.

Colonel Callahan directed that the snag which had restricted access to the SORA Unit website be immediately resolved.

It is back up-and-running today, which has materially assisted with vital security efforts in Atlantic and Cape May Counties (as well as statewide).

This is a very big deal. It directly helps to protect our food chain supply.

Because of Kevin’s proactivity and Colonel Callahan’s usual sense of urgency, this vital background process has been reestablished, effective immediately.

In the process, the Colonel has also doubled the length of a temporary permit from 30 to 60 days.

This is huge during the current Coronavirus crisis. Here are the details:

UPDATE - 4/3/20:

The Private Detective Unit will now be accepting SORA Security Officer Initial Applications. Be advised that due to the New Jersey State of Emergency regarding COVID-19, the temporary certification, effective April 3, 2020, will be valid for 60 days. This 60-day temporary certification will only exist while the State of New Jersey is in the current State of Emergency. If you received a 30-day temporary certification, between Feb 19, 2020 and March 20, 2020 it will be extended 30 days for a total of 60 days.

Temporary SORA certificate holders who have not completed the training requirement and the fingerprinting process will expire at the conclusion of the temporary certification dates, unless extended by the Superintendent of the State Police. Temporary certificate holders who are expired are not authorized to work until they are properly certified.

This enables vital security personnel to be able to go to work on behalf of the public.

Thank you Colonel Callahan.

Thank you Kevin Walls.

Thank you Pat and Mario.

This is just the latest example why I love my job after 28 years.

It’s a privilege to work together with such high quality individuals.

In very bad times, this is such a good news story.

Together, we are New Jersey Strong.