21st Century Policing: Leadership, Vigilance, Collaboration

It has been an honor to have 275 published works, and to deliver presentations on issues, which in my opinion are critical to America.

It is also an honor to have these issues published in my newest book titled Reawakening America.

Along with the many topics that have been covered, policing, built on iron-clad partnerships with the community, has often been underscored.

These partnerships must be built on the pillars of leadership, vigilance, and collaboration, and are only productive when trust is the foundation.

American Policing: Reviewing Issues and Responses

Based on the extensive amount of material covered, a quick review to summarize some of these articles is now in order.

Here follows highlights from a select group of ten articles.

Hopefully, this summary will ensure that police-community partnerships have the encouragement needed to continue building bridges of trust.

NYPD Neighborhood Policing is a Shared Responsibility, Mar. 21, 2018

“A unity of effort between the police and community is the foundation for protecting America and critical for securing our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

“Protecting our communities and the morale of the nation demands unwavering shared responsibility, the lifeline of public safety.

“America must be fully committed, without reserve or excuse, to building bridges between the police and community as our way of life demands this collaboration.

“Failure to share responsibility is not an option as without cohesiveness the results will only be distrust, discord, and disorder.”

As a follow up to this article, just this past weekend, New York City experienced the first weekend without a murder in 25 years.

Based on this statistic, and the importance of Neighborhood Policing, I communicated information to the New Jersey Attorney General on October 16, 2018 which included the following:

“Neighborhood Policing, an outstanding step-up from community policing, deserves implementation in agencies and communities throughout New Jersey. We should enhance collaboration with the NYPD, fine-tune this model for New Jersey, and provide the necessary leadership.”

Empowering America’s Police to Serve as Ethical Protectors, Feb. 8, 2018

“America’s law enforcement professionals are in critical roles of protecting and serving our communities.

“We must recognize, appreciate, and support them in their challenging work. We must also realize our shared responsibility and do everything in our power to forge iron-clad police-community partnerships.

“These partnerships must be built on an ethical code, essential not only to law enforcement professionals, but on every community member privileged to call America home.”

Best Time to Be a Cop in America, Sept. 10, 2017

“Policing is critical to American society and must perpetually stand on the pillars of ethics, trust, collaboration, and moral courage.

“When these principles are honored, police-community unity is forged, and America’s way of life is protected from discord, lawlessness, and turmoil.

“Yet, one would be oblivious, irresponsible, and naïve to miss the challenges policing in America is experiencing.

“The spotlight on policing illuminates the critical need for trust. Society will thrive when trust is the catalyst for police-community partnerships.”

America’s Drug Crisis Demands Police-Community Unity, Apr. 13, 2017

“America’s police and communities are being challenged to unify to remedy our drug crisis.

“An entire generation of America is suffering from the drug pandemic and we must unify to prevent continual heartbreak to families.

“As we rise to the occasion with moral courage, we must remember that the police and the people are one.

“We must forge iron-clad police-community partnerships to take back our communities from the drug pestilence.

“The reality of the drug crisis is a matter of family tragedies, heartbreak, and death. Our drug crisis also inflicts suffering on the morale our nation.

“We will be on the path to reawakening the nation when, as ethical protectors, we dedicate ourselves to unity.

“America is suffering, and we must all respond to take back the nation from the scourge of the drug crisis.”

American Policing: Restoring Trust, Building Community, Oct. 20, 2016

“During the last few years, there have been incidents, controversies, and protests throughout America that must serve as a clarion call to renew, restore, and rejuvenate police-community unity.

“A policing incident in any community can spark intense repercussions throughout the nation. Any breakdown of trust between community and police demands an urgent, unwavering, and complete dedication to remedy the problem.

“Police-community collaboration will only be possible when leadership builds bridges of trust.

“These ideals will become reality when human contact, with respect as the foundation, is enhanced between police and the community.”

21st Century Policing: America’s Ethical Guardians, June 23, 2016

“There has always been corruption in government, but this is no excuse for unethical behavior to continue.

“The dignity that represents America demands renewal, and our police, so vital to the integrity of government and security in our communities must rise to the occasion.

“Every law enforcement official who takes the sacred oath to protect and serve must be fully dedicated to society as an ethical guardian.

“There can be no compromise by law enforcement officials to ethical values. Law enforcement must be totally and wholeheartedly committed to their sacrosanct duty, never faltering with the responsibilities bestowed upon them.”

Police-Community Collaboration: America’s Public Safety Lifeline, Feb. 18, 2016

“Police-community collaboration is critical to renewing the values of America and the lifeline of public safety throughout the nation.

“America must rise to the occasion with an unwavering commitment to facilitate police-community collaboration, the lifeline of public safety.”

Police in Schools: Safeguarding America, Building Character, Nov. 5, 2015

“When our teachers and police collaborate to enhance security, character, and the preventive system of education, we will inspire our youth to carry the torch of America’s decency.

“The school resource officer (SRO) is a priceless component of violence prevention and character education for our schools. This initiative also promotes a positive image of law enforcement to our nation’s youth.

“Our schools should do everything possible to have an SRO program and law enforcement should be fully committed with the most qualified, trained, certified, and dedicated professionals available.”

Principles of American Policing, May 5, 2015

The nine principles of American policing include the following:

• “Moral courage must be encouraged, as police must be empowered make decisions that are legal, ethical, and moral.
• “Patriotism is mission-critical. Honoring America, our flag, and our military personnel must be part and parcel of the police officer’s creed and take place at every police event.
• “Police interventions must always be proportional, constitutional, and uphold quality of life issues deserved by all communities.
• “Police require a discerning recruitment process, education credentials, and ongoing training/certifications, including constitutional policing, diversity, civil rights, race-relations, violence prevention, community policing, crisis management, ethics, leadership, gangs, private security, and use of force.”

Building Police-Community Trust: Wake Up, America, Dec. 5, 2014

“Community policing must be central to reawakening the nation. It deserves full dedication from every member of law enforcement (not just selected members assigned to a community policing unit) and from all members of every community.

“Endless rhetoric, political appointees, and self-serving commissions will only be a waste of time.

“America deserves action, leaders of character, and police–community cohesiveness so we may live the legacy of justice destined for our nation.’

Final Reflections

As expressed through this selection of articles, a unity of effort, or “mutual responsibility” as emphasized by the NYPD, is critical to safeguarding America.

It is my hope that our nation will have the unwavering commitment to police community collaboration, as this unity is essential to the health of our nation.

Note Well:

Twitter: vincentjbove

Vincent’s Newest Book: Reawakening America

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Vincent is author of 275 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning. He also has thirteen cover stories published in The Chief of Police, some of which are illustrated above.

Spotlight on NYPD: Protecting, Serving, Saving Lives

Some recent headlines on life-saving activities by members of the NYPD deserve attention.

These incidents are a reminder of the importance of the policing profession. They are proof-positive that the words courtesy, professionalism, and respect emblazoned on every NYPD vehicle is alive and well in New York City.

Transit Officers Save 1-Year-Old

On October 9,2018, NYPD officers in Brooklyn saved a toddlers life. The officers rushed 1-year-old Amir Nieves to the hospital after he stopped breathing on a subway platform.

While waiting for a medical unit to arrive, Officers Damion Graham, 25 and Charles Edwards, 43 began giving chest compression's.

Realizing that time was of the essence, the officers decided to rush the child themselves to Interfaith Hospital while performing CPR along the way.

The heads-up response of the officers, supported by the CPR training they received, resulted in saving the child’s life.

NYPD Officers Save Chainsaw Accident Victim

Also on Oct. 9, two NYPD officers, this time in the Bronx, were credited with saving a man’s life who was profusely bleeding from a chainsaw accident.

While on patrol, Officers Amauris Rodriguez and Thomas Natoli were alerted by someone pleading, “I got someone in the car bleeding. I need help.”

The officers found construction worker Richard Tirado, 49, passed out due to blood loss from severing his arm while cutting trees with the chainsaw.

Officer Natoli immediately understood an artery was severed, and along with Officer Rodriguez began applying a tourniquet.

“We applied a tourniquet to a high part of the shoulder to stop the bleeding completely, and then rendered aid as much as we could until the ambulance arrived,” Officer Natoli said.

Due to their actions, the man was transported to the hospital and his life was saved.

NYPD Saves Suicidal Man

On Sept. 30, three NYPD officers risked their own safety to save a distraught man threatening to jump from the Williamsburg Bridge.

One of these officers, Detective Christopher Williams, was also involved with the July 4 rescue of a protester who climbed the Statue of Liberty.

The three Emergency Services Unit officers scaled the bridge to comfort the man before placing him in a harness to lower him to safety.

Detective Williams, along with Detective Thomas Longa and Officer Dan Dongvort saved the man’s life.

Detective Longa calmed the man by telling him “nothing that’s going on in your life is worth ending it.”

After the man was lowered from the bridge he was very grateful.

Detective Williams stated, “We saved a life today. I feel we did a good job. We saved somebody, and we’re all here and we’re all safe.”

Rookie NYPD Officer Saves Toddler

A toddler who suffered a seizure and stopped breathing in July is alive thanks to a rookie NYPD officer.

The incident began with the mother, Rebeca Alarcon running with Leah, her 20-month-old, to the 115th precinct in Queens pleading for help.

Officer Osvaldo Nunez, a 22-year-old rookie, who only recently graduated from the police academy was there.

“I immediately ran through the double door, placed the baby on a little stool we had there, and immediately began chest compressions,” Officer Nunez said, “Once I saw the baby was unresponsive, I just locked in, I got into the zone.”

His first round of compressions didn’t work, but when he started up a second time, Leah opened her eyes.

“After that, the baby was just there with us. I lifted her up,” he said. “I made sure she had nothing in her mouth ... After that, I brought her over to my shoulder, she seemed brand new.”

Leah was then rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where she was treated and released.

NYPD Officers Administer Narcan, Save Life

In June, a team of four NYPD officers in Lower Manhattan administered Narcan and used their medical training to save a woman’s life after responding to a possible drug overdose call.

The woman was found unresponsive by her boyfriend, who immediately called 911. After responding to the scene, 1st Precinct Officers Gut and Horan administered Narcan, while Officers Hernandez and Durante performed CPR.

Their efforts saved the woman’s life, and she was transported to New York Downtown Hospital for further treatment and evaluation.

Final Reflections

These life-saving incidents are a reminder that being a NYPD police officer is a sacred profession, and that at any moment lives can be saved.

These officers reflect the best of all of us. Each and every New Yorker must be eternally grateful that men and women are responding to the call to serve their communities.

Note Well:

Twitter: vincentjbove

Vincent’s Newest Book: Reawakening America

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Vincent is author of 275 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.

Related Coverage:

Best Time to Be a Cop in America

Policing Requires Ethical Protectors

21st Century Policing: America’s Ethical Guardians

Photos:

1. Officers Charles Edwards and Damion Graham. (Courtesy NYPD)
2. New York City police keep guard during the annual Columbus Day parade in New York City on Oct. 8, 2018. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
3. 1. 1st Precinct Police Officers, (L-R) PO Gut, PO Horan, PO Hernandez, PO Durante. (Courtesy NYPD)

America’s Active Shooter Tragedies: Protecting Our Schools

As I write this article, it is Oct. 1, 2018, the first anniversary of the deadliest single mass shooting in modern US history in Las Vegas.

On this solemn memorial, we must pause to remember all gone too soon.

The heartbreaking loss of these innocent people, so cherished by family, friends, and communities, reminds us of the sacredness of human life.

As we honor all lost on that fateful day, let us reawaken compassion in the heart of America.

Let us also be fully dedicated to their memory with the leadership, vigilance, and collaboration necessary to safeguard our schools and communities.

FBI Report: Alarming Statistics

A published FBI report titled Quick Look: 250 Active Shooter Incidents in the United States from 2000 to 2017, presents sobering insights of violence in America.

The report cites that 250 incidents occurred during this time-frame with 2,217 casualties.

Specifically, there were 799 individuals killed, and 1,418 wounded.

During the last eight years, there have been at least 20 incidents in six of years. The 30 active shooter incidents in 2017 is the worst during this time span.

The staggering 729 casualties in 2017, was more than 500 than in any of the previous sixteen years.

There were also 138 people killed by active shooters in 2017, and 591 were wounded.

Active Shooter Locations

Locations of commerce during these eighteen years were highest on the list with 42%, 105 incidents. Commerce was followed by location categories as follows:

• Education, 20.8%, 52 incidents
• Open Space, 14%, 35 incidents
• Government including military, 10%, 50 incidents
• Residences, 4.8%, 12 incidents
• Houses of Worship, 4%, 10 incidents
• Health Care Facilities, 4%, 10 incidents
• Other Locations, 0.4%, 1 incident

Bergen County: Proactively Addressing the Issue

On Tuesday, Sept. 25, I was privileged to address active shooter issues through an educational event hosted by the Bergen County Education Association (BCEA).

The event took place at the Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, New Jersey and was attended by over 100 school superintendents and education leaders from throughout Bergen County.

For the past 20 years, I have been honored to conduct extensive educational, violence prevention, and crisis planning initiatives for schools, workplaces, and law enforcement agencies throughout Bergen.

These have included security vulnerability assessments, keynotes for teachers and staff, and character education sessions for students.

It has also been my privilege to serve the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association (BCPCA) during the last sixteen years as Chairperson of Community Policing and School Security. In this capacity, I have presented monthly remarks to chiefs and law enforcement officials from over 70 agencies.

At the Sept. 25 event, I was the co-speaker with the Bergen County Regional SWAT team. Together, we addressed active shooter issues and concerns.

Members of the Bergen County Regional SWAT team shared detailed information on tactical issues related to their commitment to protecting Bergen County.

During my presentation, I took the approach of prevention. My focus included the importance of effectively responding to warning signs, security vulnerability assessments as more comprehensive than surveys, school resource officers, police-community partnerships, situational awareness, student empowerment, academic excellence, teacher and staff training, and the preventive pedagogy of education. This pedagogy is critical for American schools as it enhances trust, builds bridges with all members of the school community, and fosters a vigilant, active, and respected presence by staff in the school community.

Active Shooter: Practical Tips

Some excerpts from the document titled Active Shooter Emergency Action Plan Development Guide and Template by the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security Preparedness deserve attention.

In the emergency action section details related to the RUN, HIDE, or FIGHT concepts and are as follows:

RUN – Evacuate

Whatever you do, do not freeze. If you are at a distance where you can run away from the shooter in a reasonable amount of time, start running in the opposite direction, preferably in a zigzag pattern since a moving target is almost impossible to hit, no matter how good a shot the shooter is.

If you have time, grab a fire extinguisher to leave a path of smoke behind you to make it harder for the shooter to see you, as a way of covering your tracks.

Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow. Have an escape route and a plan in mind to get to identified assembly locations. Avoid using elevators or escalators.

Go to one of the assembly areas or rally points established for personnel to respond to if they run and evacuate the building.

Leave your belongings behind. Help others escape if possible. Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be.

HIDE (or Lockdown in Place)

It should only take a few seconds to determine if your best course of action should be to run or to hide. If the shooter is rapidly approaching the room you are in, then you should prepare to hide as soon as possible. If you have more time, but not enough time to run, then you should immediately secure doors by locking or barricading them with furniture or heavy objects.

Turn off lights and any source of noise, including your cellphone ringer and vibrate mode. Stay out of sight and away from windows. Remain completely still and quiet. If multiple people are in the room, you should delegate tasks. One person or group of people should lock and barricade the door. One person or group of people should call 9-1-1, and one person or group of people should grab all the weapons they can find.

Wait for responding law enforcement to advise you when it is safe to come out.

FIGHT

Attacking the shooter is your final option. You should not jump out of your hiding place and attack the shooter if he is approaching. You should only attack if you are so close, you cannot run, or exposed and sure, that you will be shot if you do nothing. This is a fight for your life!

If the shooter is approaching, the doorway of the room you are will be a choke point he has to move through and a good place from which to attack. This is where you want to engage him, because it will be easier knowing he has to come through that door looking for targets.

If there are multiple people in the room and the shooter can see all of you, then everyone should attack at once, hurting the shooter, throwing objects and doing everything possible to incapacitate the shooter. You may not want to fight the shooter if you see that someone else is doing it, but strength in numbers will make it more likely that you will survive.

Attack the shooter’s face, eyes, shoulders, or neck, or arms, so that the shooter is more likely to let go of the weapon. You should stab the shooter in the neck, gouge out his eyes, or stab him in the arm … even a sharp ballpoint pen or pencil could be a good weapon for gouging out the shooter's eyes. If you cannot go for his face or weapon, kick him/her in the crotch. This will be an effective way to slow him/her and to cause a large amount of pain. Be aware of possible second weapons such as a knife, even if the attacker is severely injured. You must do anything you can to rid the shooter of his/her weapon, or to hurt them so they can be disarmed or neutralized.

Final Reflections

The BCEA deserves praise for their dedication to building bridges between law enforcement and school leaders to safeguard the county schools.

Also, the Bergen County Regional SWAT team deserves appreciation for their vigilance with protecting communities throughout the county, and for their dedication to educating community leaders.

When law enforcement and educational communities work collaboratively, there can only be positive results, and we are on the right path of preventing violence and reawakening the nation.

Related Coverage

America’s Active Shooter Crisis: Issues and Response

America’s Active Shooter Crisis Demands Leadership

American School Violence Requires a Response of Courage, Commitment, and Community

America’s Schools: Security, Character, Academics

Photos

1. Ashley Schuck of Nevada places a medal she got for running for shooting victim Neysa Tonks in Saturday's Vegas Strong 5K on a cross set up for Tonks in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 1, 2018. On Oct. 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas killing 58 people and injuring more than 800 in the deadliest mass shooting event in U.S. history. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
2. Bergen County Regional SWAT team answering questions from Bergen County School Superintendents on Active Shooter Issues, Sept. 25, 2018. (Vincent J. Bove)

Note Well:

Twitter: vincentjbove

Vincent’s Newest Book: Reawakening America

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Vincent is author of 275 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.