Manuel M. Vilar

Vice president/Chief Administrative Officer/Director/Legislative Chairman

Police Benevolent Association of New York State 

Manuel M. Vilar began his career as a State park Police Officer with his first assignment in Washington Heights, the Bronx and Harlem.

He rose to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the East End of Long Island, where he remains to this day.

Vilar got involved in the union side in the late 1980s, when he was appointed Treasurer of the Long Island State Park Police Benevolent Association (PBA).

“We challenged the existing union to become the independent bargaining agent for the New York State Park Police.”

This was unsuccessful, but the New York State Park Police PBA continues to be the fraternal organization. Some members even went on to form the current State Corrections Officers Union (NYSCOBA).

Vilar, for his part, continued working on the legislative side of the New York State Association of PBAs to ensure that all members received benefits.

“That leads us to forming the Police Benevolent Association of New York State,” he said. “We are the 5th biggest non-New York City police union. We represent State Park Police, State University Police, State Environmental Conservation Police, and State Forest Rangers, a total of 1,500 members.”

Vilar, who is still “boots on the ground” and regularly works 16-hour shifts, also ensures that all labor relations and negotiations are taken care of “on the state-wide level, from Montauk to Buffalo.”

As for the future, Vilar is looking to the new administration under Governor Kathy Hochul to “commit to New York State’s oldest police department the New York State Park Police.”