e often remind our members in this space of the importance of union solidarity. By this we usually mean the need for New York City PBA members to present an active and unified front in the various battles that confront us — contract-related and otherwise — and the causes that concern us.

But there is another important kind of union solidarity, it occurred to us recently on the sad day that our fallen brother, Omar Edwards, was laid to rest.

We were reminded of the strong bond that exists between this PBA and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA) led by our long-time friend and ally, Thomas J. Nee.

Tommy Nee and his troops have been there for us over the years — whether we were trailing Mayor Bloomberg to agitate for better-paying contracts, demonstrating outside the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden, or in countless other issues and events crucial to this union’s success.

New York City police officers have no better friends than their brothers and sisters of the Boston Police Department, as the latter showed once again by standing solid with us at Officer Edwards’ funeral. In fact, the Boston police officers have quietly joined us at many of our funerals over the years, in great numbers, without fanfare, and without seeking thanks, praise and recognition. They would simply file in behind us in line, unobtrusively, with dignity and respect.

Our unions are united in the neverending struggle for better pay and working conditions for the police officers in two of the nation’s greatest cities. At the GOP convention, they joined us by the busload to walk beside us on the picket line. And we reciprocated when they fought for a better contract.

Tommy Nee and his members are among the nation’s finest examples of union activism and solidarity. We owe them a lot.

Patrick J. Lynch, President