MY BROTHERS KEEPER
/By: Michael D. Boll
During my police career, I increasingly wanted to do get more involved and really help my brothers and sisters in blue. I saw the great work done by the New Jersey State PBA and decided to run to become the local's PBA delegate. Since being new and not knowing much about my new position, my friend and fellow delegate Ken Burkert took me under his wing and immediately began mentoring me. Still to this day, Ken continues to give me advice and assists with the work we do for our charity.
Ken Burkert grew up in Hillside, New Jersey and attended Hillside High School where he was both an outstanding football player and wrestler. Shortly after graduation, Ken was hired by Union County Corrections. While employed at the jail, Ken became the local’s state delegate and was responsible for helping over 300 members. Ken has always put his members first and has helped so many brothers and sisters in blue get the fair treatment they deserved. Fortunately, Ken’s work did not go unnoticed and, in a very short period of time, he was elected to the New Jersey State PBA’s state board, where he remained for the remainder of his illustrious career.
Ken is a great family man married to his wife Renee for past 27 years and she has been his biggest advocate throughout his career. He has a daughter and twin sons who became extremely successful in their endeavors. His daughter, Victoria, is completing graduate school at Rutgers for a (MSW) Masters in social work. His sons Ryan and Connor were both New Jersey state finalist wrestlers, and received scholarships to continue wrestling Division I at Hofstra University in the EWIA conference. Both sons graduated with marketing and finance degrees from the Zarb School of Business.
Ken has always made himself available, spending countless hours helping our uniformed heroes get through some really difficult times. During his time on the state board, Ken spearheaded numerous anti-suicide programs and events. He was a founding member of the PART (Peer Assistance Response Team) and served on the New Jersey Suicide Task Force. Ken also helped create a law enforcement suicide awareness walk, which brings officers and their families from all over the state together to honor our lost members to this ongoing tragic crisis.
This incredible work was done mostly on his own personal time and he hasn’t slowed down since his retirement. After Ken retired, he was employed by the Penn Medicine-Princeton House Behavioral Health Team. Currently, he is a liaison to first responder organizations, facilitating the smooth transition of first responders to Princeton House Behavioral Health’s First Responder Treatment Services and outpatient care within the community.
Recently, Ken and his team partnered up with the Union County Sheriff, Peter Corvelli, for employee support and counseling training. Members from the Union County Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health hosted training on traumatic events in the workplace, offered Peer-to-Peer counseling and provided mental health wellbeing for officers and supervisors.
Recently, Ken has joined our team as the Peer Support Specialist, and he continues to advocate for uniformed heroes. In the next few months, Ken will be assisting us with its first statewide PTSD awareness and anti-suicide campaign. The initiative is fully backed by the NJSPA, NJ FMBA, American Legion, NJ VFW, and numerous elected officers. Ken will be helping us build a strong mentorship program that aggressively seeks out veterans and first responders in crisis, always focused on the goal to help prevent suicide by taking a proactive approach.
Recently, law enforcement in this country has been experiencing some hard times which has resulted in some necessary changes. Throughout these changes, though, we must always assure the well-being of our brothers and sisters in blue. I know that having my friend Ken Burkert on our team will definitely have a huge impact on helping our first responders live a better life. First responders in New Jersey need to know there are people like Ken Burkert out there making a positive difference and working day and night for them. It is essential that their needs are addressed properly by those who understand their experiences.
If anyone is in need of peer assistance, please call his cell (908)346-1691.
