Dear Brother and Sister Officers,

First and foremost I would like to wish you and your family a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year. As 2012 concludes, it is imperative to take a moment to reflect and to be thankful for all that we have.

With the holiday season underway, the Executive Board and I would like you to remember our brother and sister officers who are no longer with us and those serving in the armed services both around the country and overseas. As you know, the COBA Widow’s and Children’s Fund continues to provide financial support to the families of Correction Officers who died while on active duty. Their loved ones will never be forgotten and we will cherish their lives in our memories forever. 

COBA “Takes Care of Our Own” has always been the mantra of the Widows’ and Children’s Fund events such as the annual dinner dance, cigar night, and the holiday raffle,  that continue to raise unprecedented donations from our loyal friends year after year. But the men and women of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association are not just there for each other, we are also there for our neighbors and our fellow citizens in this great city. This was never more evident than in display of the vital role COs played in the relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Not only did the worst hurricane in a hundred years devastate this city, but it also destroyed the lives of those who were already struggling just to get by. And just as we have done many times in the past from natural disasters to the attacks that occurred on 9/11, Correction Officers without worrying for their own safety sprung into action and demonstrated why we are New York’s unsung heroes. 

An unsung hero is a person whose bravery is unknown or unacknowledged. By that definition this organization is a union comprised of thousands of unsung heroes. We do what we do not only because we take an oath to the city but also because we are committed to our neighborhoods and communities. No one has to remind us what challenges we face patrolling the toughest precinct in the nation’s largest municipal jail system. Because when the cameras go away and the media turns their praise to police officers and  firefighters it is we who remain providing care custody and control of some of society’s most dangerous criminals. So while a one day story in the news may give us a salute,  we know we know our real source of pride comes from our sense of duty and commitment from within.

But at the end of the day, your union has your back. We have your back and your families back and no matter what crisis may erupt and no matter what adversity that may lay ahead, you can rest assured that the Executive Board and I will continue to diligently represent the best Correction Officers in the world. Enjoy the holidays and may God continue to bless you and your families!

Sincerely,

Norman Seabrook
President