PAX Centurion - April / June 2016

Page 28 • PAX CENTURION • April-May-June 2016 617-989-BPPA (2772) T he BPPA canteen truck, a gift from the NewYork Police Dept. after the Marathon bombing in 2013, has recently been pressed into service on repeated occasions for a slew of events ranging from the recent Verizon strike to a host of community-oriented cookouts and summer kickoffs. The recent strike of Verizon workers, beginning in mid-April, required BPPA members, on ordered overtime, to maintain order and act as a barrier between picketing workers and managers crossing their picket lines. Although neutrality was a requirement, the officers’ sympathies were clearly with the workers. The canteen truck served to bridge the formality gap, if even for a few moments. On some occasions, the canteen truck brought coffee and donuts. On other occasions, as the weather grew warmer, cold drinks and hot dogs were offered. A simple gesture, but it was duly noted and appreciated by the Verizon workers, who are now back at work after a grueling, six-week strike. The canteen truck has also been used for a variety of community and police-oriented events, such as the Boston Marathon, Dorchester Day and the funeral of Officer Robert Tarentino inAuburn, Mass. On each occasion, officers have arrived early at BPPA offices on Freeport St. to prepare and stock the truck, driven (sometimes many miles) to a pre-designated staging area, and then cooked and served hundreds of meals and drinks to officers who otherwise might languish for hours-on-end without a break. In years past, for example, BPD officers were literally left to fend for themselves at hundreds of obscure Marathon-Day fixed posts, expected to remain on post without for up to 14 hours and get “creative” when it came breaks, a cup of coffee, or a meal. The canteen truck, although not perfect, at least offers a fixed site where weary officers can relax for a few minutes and be treated like human beings. The food and drinks are all paid for the BPPA, and the volunteers work in conjunction with the BPD Detectives’ and Superior Officers’ food trucks who also provide an outstanding service to all police officers of all ranks from all police departments, civilians and youth groups at a wide variety of events. The canteen truck, in a sense, has been a victim of its own success, being requested at an ever- increasing number of events by many community groups. The truck is staffed with BPPA officers and shift reps who volunteer to work the truck, often on their own time and giving up a precious day-off. The truck requires much prep-time, with volunteer officers needed to do the shopping for food, transporting, cooking, wrapping and serving, not to mention the clean-up that follows. Much thanks should be given to the BPPA shift-reps who routinely drive the truck and negotiate the difficult-to-manage trailer into tight spaces: Harbor Rep. Jeff Tobin, AreaA Rep’s. Matt Carey and Dave Malcolm, andArea D Rep. Dan McCarthy, BPPA Secretary Chris Broderick, School Police Rep. Heather MacKenzie, Area A-7 Rep. Matt Morris, B-3 Rep. Dan MacIssac andArea C Rep’s Jimmy LaCroix and Jim Doiron are constant volunteers, as are a host of other BPPA officers who volunteer their time and effort when and where they can. (Forgive us if we missed a much-deserved mention). Improvements for food service are constantly being considered, and your ideas and input are appreciated. BPPA Canteen truck in overdrive for Verizon strike, community events