Port Authority Police Department: America's Ethical Sentinels

On Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, I returned to the Port Authority Police Department's academy in Jersey City, New Jersey to continue my ongoing training and development initiative titled "Port Authority Police Department: Honor, Leadership, Protecting America.

Today's training for 61 police officers, who will eventually be promoted to sergeants, was a continuation of my previous presentations this year to the Superintendent of Police and executive staff on July 29, and sergeants awaiting promotions to lieutenants on Oct. 20.

The two presentations of today's training program were titled as follows:

* Port Authority Police Department: America's Ethical Sentinels
* America's Ethical Sentinels: Courtesy, Trust, Respect

Aside from PowerPoint presentations, attendees received copies of my newest cover story for The Chief of Police Magazine titled "Principles of American Policing." This article was an extended version of my "Reawakening the Nation" column for the Epoch Times, also published in The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine, June 2015 edition.

It was a great honor to serve these dedicated men and woman who make us proud to be Americans by their commitment to protect and serve.

Port Authority Police Department: Pride, Service, Distinction - Oct. 20, 2015 blog

As requested by the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), I am conducting an leadership initiative titled “Port Authority Police Department: Honor, Leadership, Protecting America.”

This initiative complements the PAPD motto of "pride, service, and distinction."

Attendees first involved the superintendent of police, commanding officers, inspectors, chiefs, captains, lieutenants, and executive staff. The program is now being conducted for PAPD officers and sergeants being prepared for promotions.

The PAPD, one of the largest police departments in America with 1,700 members, is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey with responsibilities including the following: Port Authority Bus Terminal, World Trade Center, PATH System, Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Port Authority Marine Terminal, Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, George Washington Bridge, The Bayonne and Goethals Bridges, and the Outerbridge Crossing.

The major airports alone: Newark Liberty International Airport, JFK International, and LaGuardia, handle more than 110 million air passengers, over 1.3 million aircraft movements, and over 2.6 million tons of air cargo annually.

The PAPD provides a wide array of services in their dedication to protect and serve the millions of people that use Port Authority facilities with capabilities including the following: Emergency Services, K-9 Patrol, Motorcycle Unit, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting, Commercial Vehicle Inspection, and Defibrillator Program.

During my presentation, I used a metaphor of a head-on train collision causing catastrophic chaos, painting the picture of America’s crisis of leadership and culture of violence. I emphasized that the PAPD is vital to our nation.

America's Crisis of Leadership

The crisis of leadership was depicted with examples including the following:

• Massive and pervasive arrests, indictments, convictions, and imprisonments of public officials throughout every level of government.
• Continuous corporate fraud cases including Enron, WorldCom, Purdue Pharma L.P., the narcissistic arrogance of Lehman’s Brothers Richard Fuld, and the long tentacles of Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion swindle that wreaked havoc on many lives.
• Scandals within the world of sports including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, FIFA, and Olympic champions.
• The sexual abuse of children in the Roman Catholic Church compounded by disgraceful cover-ups from bishops who failed to protect society from contemptuous crimes that screamed to heaven for justice.
• Scandals against our veterans who have borne the battle yet suffer from deplorable healthcare deficiencies, unemployment, and homelessness.
• Entertainment stars involved with substance abuse, domestic violence, and shootings.

America's Culture of Violence

The crisis of violence was depicted with events including the following:

• Sexual assaults of teenagers by their peers with reprehensible postings of the attacks posted online that led to heart-breaking suicides of numerous victims.
• Horrific incidents of school and campus violence including Columbine, Virginia Tech, Newtown, and Yale University where a murdered student’s missing body was found on what would have been her wedding day.
• Senseless workplace violence massacres including the killing of 14 at a Binghamton, New York Immigration Office, the killing of 12 people during a Batman movie in Colorado, and the Navy Yard mass shooting that left 13 dead.
• On-going violence at houses of worship, once considered sanctuary, including the horrific killing of nine people at an historic Charleston, South Carolina church.
• Senseless acts of terrorism including the Boston Marathon attack, 9/11, the lone-wolf attack of NYPD officers, and the killing of 4 Marines and a Sailor in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• Continuous police officer fatalities who died while faithfully protecting and serving our communities.

Final Reflections

At 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, a hijacked airliner struck One World Trade Center, igniting a blazing inferno in the side of the 110-story structure. Seventeen minutes later, another hijacked jet slammed into Two World Trade Center causing a second inferno.

PAPD members, who were some of the first law enforcement personnel to respond to the terrorist attacks, quickly rushed into the burning buildings and heroically helped rescue thousands of employees. Some of these heroes climbed high up into the burning towers to assist those who were seriously injured or trapped.

Thirty-seven members of the PAPD were killed on that fateful day and their heroism deserves to be eternally honored.

It was an honor to serve these men and women who protect and serve America as their sacrifices are essential to our liberty, freedom, and democracy.

Note Well:

Port Authority Police Department Testimonial
"I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for taking time out of our busy schedule to speak with the Port Authority Police Command Staff on July 29th.

"You are a true Patriot, and your presentation was well received and appreciated by all of the Staff in attendance..."
Commanding Officer Port Authority Police Academy

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As authored for Vincent’s weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times, 35 countries, 21 languages and growing.

Photo’s

1. Vincent J. Bove with his class of 61 PAPD Police officers on Dec. 8, 2015. (Courtesy PAPD)
2. Vincent J. Bove conducting training for Port Authority Police Department sergeant’s prior to promotions to lieutenant, Oct. 20, 2015. (Courtesy PAPD)
3. Port Authority Police Department personnel at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC. (Courtesy PAPD)
4. Port Authority Police Department providing security for the PATH. (Courtesy PAPD)
5. Port Authority Police Department salute. (Courtesy PAPD)
6. Port Authority Police Department patch. (Vincent J. Bove)