NYPD and FDNY Chaplains: Purpose, Service, Respect

During a recent action plan session with NYPD and FDNY executives at the NYPD Health and Wellness Section office, the noble ministry of chaplain’s units was a focus.

This ministry is a necessity for public service agencies, especially first responders due to the intensity of sacrifice required.

Admirably, they are units of prominence with both the NYPD and FDNY.

Irrefutably; policing, firefighting, and emergency service personnel require a sound body, mind, and spirit to efficaciously perform their duties.

The chaplaincy ministry is a pillar of encouragement, affirmation, and support to these public-servants, and their ministry deserves support, gratitude, and admiration.

About NYPD

“The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is the largest and one of the oldest municipal police departments in the United States, with approximately 36,000 officers and 19,000 civilian employees.

“The NYPD was established in 1845. Today, it is responsible for policing an 8.5-million-person city, by performing a wide variety of public safety, law enforcement, traffic management, counterterror, and emergency response roles.

“In the past 25 years, the department has achieved spectacular declines in both violent and property crime, ensuring that New York City has the lowest overall rate of major crimes in the 25 largest cities in the country.

“The NYPD is divided into major bureaus for enforcement, investigations, and administration. It has 78 patrol precincts with patrol officers and detectives covering the entire city. The department also has 12 transit districts to police the subway system and its nearly six-million daily riders, and nine police service areas (PSA’s) to patrol the city's public housing developments. These are homes to more than 400,000 residents.

“Additionally, uniformed civilians serve as traffic safety agents on the city's busy streets and highways, and as school safety agents, protecting public schools and the over-a-million students who attend them.”    

FDNY Overview

“The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) is the largest Fire Department in the United States.

“It is universally recognized as the world's busiest and most highly skilled emergency response agency. Annually, FDNY responds to millions of emergency calls.

“The Department's primary mission is to provide fire protection, emergency medical care, fire prevention, and other critical public safety services to both residents and visitors in New York City's five boroughs.

“It also responds outside of the City's borders to assist neighboring municipalities, and nationally/internationally on special assignments.

“Since its inception in 1865, the FDNY has helped lead efforts to make New York the safest large city in the country. This accomplishment requires a steadfast and daily commitment to maintaining the Department's core values.

“FDNY members are sworn to serve and protect life and property. They aim to prevent emergencies by continually educating the public in fire and life safety, and disaster preparedness, as well as enforcing public safety codes.”

“The head of the Department is the Fire Commissioner, the second in command is the First Deputy Commissioner. The Chief of Department is the highest-ranking uniformed member. Currently, the FDNY has more than 17,000 employees, including approximately: 11,000 firefighters and fire officers; 4,500 EMTs, paramedics and EMS officers; and 2,000 civilian employees, including fire protection inspectors.

“Spread across New York City's 302 square miles, the FDNY has 218 firehouses, 39 EMS stations, and additional support facilities, including one’s housing fleet services, fire alarm and emergency medical dispatch, and health services for its membership. The Department's Fire Academy (also known as "The Rock") is located on Manhattan's Randall's Island, and its EMS Academy (also referred to as "The Fort") is located at Fort Totten in Queens. FDNY headquarters, housing its Fire Department Operations Center (FDOC), is located in Brooklyn.

“The Department has a fleet of more than 1,300 apparatus, specialty vehicles, ambulances and fireboats”

NYPD Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker

The purpose of our meeting was to develop a plan on how to most effectively utilize my NYPD Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker appointment with the NYPD and FDNY.

We discussed the many positive programs of both agencies. This included the NYPD’s Critical Incident Stress Management Program, their Peer Support Program, POPPA, Chaplain’s unit, and Finest Care as supported by Northwell Direct.

Our discussion also included the FDNY Chaplain’s unit, Peer Support Program, promotion training campaigns, and first line supervisory training programs.

We crystallized how each department conducts health and wellness.  This would facilitate my role with complementing their extraordinary work with an unprecedented NYPD / FDNY / EMS  leadership and wellness initiative. 

Our discussions identified how to best use my background of training law enforcement and first responders with leadership, crisis management and violence prevention issues. Yet, how to also my privileged chaplaincy experiences to best assist the NYPD and FDNY. 

This work began with a custom developed initiative titled The NYPD: Leading Through a National Crisis. This was prepared for the NYPD Commissioner in October, 2024. Its pillars are ethical leadership, building morale, emotional resiliency, and suicide prevention.

NYPD Chaplains Unit

“Recognizing a need to attend to the emotional and spiritual needs of its members, the department formed the Chaplains Unit in 1906. 

"Since that time, we have been successfully helping countless members of the service and their families during difficult or stressful times.

“The Chaplains Unit provides confidential counseling, spiritual assistance, and moral guidance. In addition, chaplains are available for various religious services upon request.

“Our department chaplains are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and respond directly to serious incidents involving members of the service. Department chaplains also provide pastoral care by visiting members of the service who are injured or sick.

“Our chaplains provide needed support and outreach by visiting police facilities to promote officer well-being. This gives the chaplains an opportunity to interact with members at their commands.

“Any members wishing to speak to a chaplain may do so confidentially in our office at PSA 4: 130 Avenue C, Room 409 New York, NY 10009. 

An FDNY chaplain can meet the member at a location of their choosing.”   NYPD Chaplains Unit

FDNY Chaplains Unit

“The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) has chaplains who provide support to firefighters and staff during difficult times. Chaplains are available 24/7 and can meet with members in person or confidentially in the office at PSA 4. They can also meet members at a location of their choosing.

Tribute:

“Monsignor John E. Delendick: A 28-year FDNY veteran who was appointed as a chaplain in 1996. 

"The Monsignor was present at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and spent many hours helping families and friends of those who died. 

"In 2023, Monsignor Delendick passed away from World Trade Center-related cancer at the age of 74.

“Chaplains can help firefighters and staff with a range of issues, including burnout, stress, and trauma. They can also assist with duties and celebrate exciting times.”  AI Overview of FDNY Chaplains

Initial NYPD Programs

The initial programs since my NYPD appointment will now be a foundation for already additionally scheduled NYPD / FDNY Operation Resiliency programs.

Programs so far have included:

·       Police Self Support Group

·       The Peer Support Group

·       75 Newly Promoted Sergeants

·       All Newly Appointed Lieutenants and Captains

·       The NYPD American Legion Post 460

Since NYPD / FDNY programs have now been scheduled, I was asked to develop a bullet point introduction.  

The request was to spotlight not only my 25 years of law enforcement credentials, but also my 45 years of chaplaincy and ministry services.

It was uplifting to have the NYPD and FDNY executives appreciate that these combined life-long experiences are invaluable to their departments, and to American society.

The bullet points requested are as follows:

Vincent Bove Bullet Point Bio

·       National Speaker, Confidant & Author of 4 books & 325 articles on ethical leadership, violence prevention & crisis management.  

·       NYPD Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker - spotlighting ethical leadership, morale, resiliency & suicide prevention.

·       Chaplain: Players from two New York Yankee World Series Championship Teams & players throughout Major League Baseball, authoring two books on this ministry.

·       Spokesperson: Coalition of victim's families from the Virginia Tech tragedy, authoring a report on their behalf.

·       Two master’s degrees from the Pontifical Josephinum, a Vatican institution. *

·       45 years of chaplaincy experience with extensive missionary activities - traveled extensively throughout China with his wife, six times during the last 8 years.

·       10 years pro bono youth ministry as a Salesian of Saint John Bosco - developed youth camps in the Bahamas, St. Thomas Church in Harlem, and Louisiana.

·       Chairperson: Bergen County Police Chiefs Association for 20 years on ethical leadership and school violence.

·       National Association of Chiefs of Police  author - 15 years with an unprecedented 18 cover stores on policing leadership.

·       Developed & published policing certification program titled 21st Century Policing: America’s Ethical Protector

·       Speaker: FBI, law enforcement, school violence, U.S. Air Force, and United States Military Academy - who sponsored his book Listen To Their Cries for all attendees at their National Conference of Ethics in America.

It has been a humbling experience to assist those who serve. The NYPD and FDNY have my unwavering support of their missions to protect and serve the people of New York City.

Mental Health Resources for NYPD Members

About Vincent

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker, author, and confidant on issues critical to America with over 325 published works. 

His most recent of four books are Reawakening America © and Listen to Their Cries.© 

Bove is recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, former confidant of players from two world-champion New York Yankee teams, and served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy victim’s families.

He was appointed the Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker by the NYPD in 2024; addressing issues of ethical leadership, building morale, emotional resiliency, and suicide prevention.  

Bove has been an author for the National Association of Chiefs of Police for 15 years, with over 60 published works, and an unprecedented 18 cover stories for their magazine. 

He served the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association for 20 consecutive years as liaison and chairperson on policing leadership, violence prevention, and public safety issues.

Bove developed Leadership Principles: Crisis Planning, Community Partnerships, Violence Prevention© keynotes to safeguard New York City at sites including:

·         Museums hosted by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

·         Corporations hosted by The New York Stock Exchange

·         Hospitals hosted by Rockefeller University

·         Properties hosted by The Union Club of New York

·         Universities hosted by Columbia University, the New York Athletic Club and Fordham University.

Bove has conducted extensive leadership presentations for the FBI, the United States Military Academy, law enforcement, educators, security professionals, and students nationwide. www.vincentbove.com

“We must all serve as catalysts to protect our workplaces, schools, communities, public spaces, houses of worship, and one another. Public safety demands leadership, vigilance, and collaboration.  Security and personal safety demands comprehensive enhancements, on-going training, effective response to warning signs, and building bridges with law enforcement, private security, and every member of the community.”  Vincent J Bove

* Governance & Pontifical Identity: The Josephinum is a pontifical institution immediately subject to the Holy See, through the Apostolic Nuncio, and governed by the Board of Trustees. Its programs follow the norms established by the Code of Canon Law, the Congregation for the Clergy, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. As a pontifical seminary, the Josephinum assists seminarians in developing their unity and love for the Holy Father and the Holy See.

Related Bove Published Works from the NACOP:

The NYPD: Leading Through a National Crisis ©

NYPD Employee Assistance Unit: Leading Through a National Crisis ©

21st Century Policing: Issues and Response                           

21st Century American Policing Demands Ethical Leadership

Police Suicides: Awareness, Compassion, Action

Safeguarding America’s Protectors: A Community Responsibility

America’s Law Enforcement Sacrifices Demand Eternal Gratitude

Igniting 21st Century Ethical Policing: Understanding the Profession

"Vincent Bove dedicates his life to making his fellow citizens and communities safer and more secure. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Vincent Bove for his sense of duty, determination and dedication in making our country a safer and more secure place to live." Congressional Record, 108th Congress

PHOTOS:

1. NYPD / FDNY Operation Resiliency (Illustration RALLC)

2. A mortally injured Father Mychal Judge is carried out of the World Trade Center by first responders, including Bill Cosgrove (in white shirt). Cosgrove says, "everybody you see in that picture was saved" from the North Tower's collapse, moments later. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters /Landov)

3. Vincent J. Bove as confidant with New York Yankees whom he served 1979 - 1982 and authored his first book And On the Eighth Day God Created the Yankees. (RALLC)

4. Vincent J. Bove as confidant of the New York Yankees in their dugout during exhibition game, April 19, 1982. (RALLC)

5. Collage of Vincent J. Bove as member of the Salesians of Saint John Bosco, 1975 - 1985. Collage includes photos of his work with youth of Louisiana, the Bahamas, Saint Thomas the Apostle Youth Center in Harlem, Buckeye Youth Detention Center in Columbus, Ohio, and Don Bosco Summer Camp in Newton, NJ. (RALLC)

6. Vincent J. Bove Li Nation School children, China, Nov. 8, 2021. (RALLC)

7. NYPD Employee Assistance Unit Poster 

8. Vincent J. Bove during this training programs at the NYPD Police Academy, dates noted, to newly promoted Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains.