Legal Protection Plan (LPP)

The New Jersey State PBA Legal Protection Plan is the preeminent law enforcement protection program in the United States. It is wholly owned and operated by the NJSPBA and boasts over $34 Million in assets, which is more than any other National organization’s legal protection plan.

All members in good standing are entitled to be a part of the plan and well over 23,000 of our 33,000 members are currently enrolled in the plan.

When the plan was implemented in 1993, it was a private insurance plan that was sponsored by the PBA. As time went on, the plan got more and more expensive, and the coverage stayed the same. In 2002, under the leadership of then President Michael Madonna, the finances of the plan were brought under the umbrella of the State PBA while the claims administration was done by and independent third-party administrator.

In 2008, under the leadership of President Tony Wieners, the transformation of the plan was completed by bringing all claims administration under control of the State PBA. Since that time coverage has increased, and many facets were added.

Today, the plan covers reasonable legal fees for administrative matters, criminal and civil coverage for duty related incidents, target of administrative and criminal investigation coverage, and bail bonds. We have also added coverage for HR 218 matters when a member defends human life while armed out of state and a death benefit of $25,000 for a line of duty death and a $10,000 benefit for active-duty deaths for enrolled members. You get this all for the cost of $256 per member per year.

Every decision made on behalf of members is made by active or retired law enforcement officers employed by the PBA.

We have also created optional coverage for members of Local 600 that provides $25,000 in legal fees for civil and criminal matters when lawfully carrying a firearm and protecting human life.

We have optional coverage for Local 600 members who are Class 3 officers working in a school.

The plan services approximately 1,400 claims per year, which is twice the number of claims it was servicing in 2008. The plan has extremely healthy reserves and is a model throughout the national law enforcement community.

If you are served with documents indicating that you are the target or witness of a duty-related event, please immediately contact your State Delegate so they can initiate the claim process for you.

If you have any questions, please contact your State Delegate.

*This is a summary of coverage. Nothing herein governs the plan or its policy. The plan is governed by the Plan document as adopted by the LPP committee and is available through your State Delegate.