NYPD / FDNY: Operation Resiliency

January 8, 2025 was an historic day for the NYPD and FDNY.

Thanks to the visionary leadership of former NYPD Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon, and FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker, a first of its kind initiative in the history of the departments became a reality.

This new phase of the initiative is titled NYPD / FDNY: Operation Resiliency.  It stands on the interdependent pillars of ethical leadership, building morale, emotional strength, and suicide prevention. 

Before continuing let us respectfully pause to honor our firefighters, emergency service personnel, law enforcement, armed forces, private security professionals, and all who protect and serve our communities and country.

These admirable men and women represent the best of America, and the most noble ideals of character, courage, and altruism.

Background

Before today, I had the privilege of speaking at various NYPD events as their Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker.

These events were covered in my published works for The Sentinel, as well as two for the National Association of Chiefs of Police:

·       The NYPD: Leading Through a National Crisis © (NACOP)

·       NYPD Employee Assistance Unit: Leading Through a National Crisis © (NACOP)

·       NYPD Sergeants: Leading Through a National Crisis ©

·       NYPD Lieutenants and Captains: Leading Through a National Crisis ©

·       NYPD American Legion Post 460: My Standard Will Remain Perfection © (Remarks)

·       NYPD Police Self Support Group: Respect, Honor, Resiliency ©

·       NYPD and FDNY Chaplains: Purpose, Service, Respect ©

·       America’s Law Enforcement Suicide Crisis: Issues and Response ©

·       NYPD Police Academy: Empowering Lieutenants to Prevent Suicide ©

The NYPD / FDNY Collaboration Begins

Today, the initiative, originally developed for the NYPD and titled The NYPD: Leading Through a National Crisis, Principled Leadership, Morale, Resilience © began a new chapter.

The NYPD initiative has now been integrated with the FDNY through visits today to fire houses in Manhattan.

This was authorized by FDNY Commissioner Tucker, and coordinated through the leadership of FDNY Lieutenant Andrew Kane.  Lieutenant Kane is the Deputy Director of the FDNY Bureau of Health Services of the Counseling Services Unit.

Today, as accompanied by FDNY Peer Counselor Charlie Wagner, both Charlie and I visited two iconic FDNY Manhattan firehouses.

Our mission was to focus on issues of leadership, morale, resiliency, and suicide prevention. 

Our methodology was to share remarks, and most importantly to listen to the concerns of the firefighters.

Charlie shared inspirational stories, as well as poignant lessons from the U.S. Navy Seals on leadership and mental health. 

His wealth of knowledge of the history of the FDNY was priceless, along with his sense of respect and empathy for his FDNY colleagues.

During my remarks, I expressed my admiration for the firefighters and thanked them for their courageous service and sacrifices for the community.

I also shared the history of this initiative with them, as well as an overview of my presentations at numerous NYPD events.

And I also shared lessons learned from the book titled The Wounded Healer which was given to me 45 years ago.

Essentially, the lessons of the book is to use the wounds we have experienced throughout life (emotional, physical and spiritual) as a source of strength, compassion, and wisdom for the healing of others.

Counseling Services Unit

Upon returning back to the FDNY Counseling Services Unit after our firehouse visits, I found this valuable booklet published by the unit titled Where to Turn: Suicide Prevention.

The booklet is a treasure trove of wisdom addressing issues of suicide including the following:

·       Awareness

·       Warning Signs

·       Risk Factors

·       How to Support Others

·       Managing Mental Health

·       First Responders & Peer Support

·       Talking About Suicide

Although the booklet is a wealth of knowledge, and these issues deserve further study, let us focus on this excerpt from the section, How to Support Others:

·       Evidence shows that providing support services, talking about suicide, reducing access to means of self-harm and following up with loved ones are just some of the actions we can all take to help others.

·       If someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, you should:

·       Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.

·       Listen to their story. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept that they feel this way.

·       Be non-judgmental. Avoid debate about whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad or the value of life.

·       Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.

·       Let them know you care.

·       Don’t be sworn to secrecy.  Seek support for yourself and the person thinking of suicide.

·       Assist the person to make a plan involving trusted people and/or professionals to help the person stay safe until they are no longer thinking of suicide.

·       Offer hope that alternatives are available, but do not discount their feelings by saying things like, ‘You’ll feel better in no time.’

·       Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.

Information form NYC Health and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

 The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen: Excerpts

·       “When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.”

·       “Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.”

·       “Our service will not be perceived as authentic, unless it comes from a heart wounded by the suffering we encounter in others.”

·       “The main question is not ‘How can we hide our wounds?’ so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but ‘How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?”

·       “To enter into solidarity with a suffering person does not mean that we have to talk with that person about our own suffering.  We must be sympathetic listeners as speaking about our own pain is seldom helpful for someone who is in pain.”

·       “A wounded healer is someone who can listen [and empathize] to a person in pain without having to speak about his or her own wounds.”

·       “When we have experienced pain, we can listen with great attentiveness and compassion to another in pain without spotlighting our own wounds.”

·       “Mostly, it is better not to direct a suffering person’s attention to ourselves. We have to trust that our own damaged wounds will allow us to listen to others with our whole being. The empathetic listening leads to healing."

 FDNY FIREHOUSES VISITED TODAY

FDNY RESCUE CO 1

“Situated on the West Side of Hell's Kitchen, FDNY Rescue Company 1 has long acted as a guardian over Manhattan. Organized over a century ago, on March 8, 1915, Rescue 1 is a specialized unit staffed with elite firefighters trained to handle complex rescue operations. 

"With one captain, three lieutenants, and 25 to 30 firefighters divided into various tours serving the streets of Manhattan below 116th Street in East Harlem and 125th Street in Morningside Heights and Harlem. Their firehouse, at 530 West 43rd Street between 10th and 11th Avenue, was rebuilt after its own calamity in 1985 when a fire in a neighboring warehouse obliterated their original headquarters.

“But of all the chapters in Rescue 1's storied history, none is as haunting as its role during the September 11 attacks. Answering the call to the North Tower, nearly half of the company's firefighters perished that day. They were one of the first units to ascend the stairwell of the doomed building. 

"The legacy of Captain Terence S Hatton, who was lost in the attacks, reverberates through the fleet of rescue trucks he designed, emblazoned with his spirited motto, "Outstanding," and his initials "T.H."

“In 2005, their section of West 43rd Street was poignantly renamed Terence S Hatton Way. Hatton was nicknamed "Captain Man-Hatton" for his insistence on learning the borough’s buildings inside and out.”    Manhattan Sideways

FDNY Squad Co 18

“Housed in a building constructed in 1892, Squad Co 18 NYFD is one of only seven fire houses in the city employed for special operations. 

"Servicing anywhere from Lower Manhattan to the streets in the 90s, this squad sent a rope to secure window washers trapped during the 9/11 tragedy.

“Abdell, a fireman I met while stopping by the station one day, said it was these triumphs of courage that led him to join the force. ‘I wanted to help somebody,’ he explained.

“On the day I visited, Abdell was showing his mother around and taking photos of some of the more prominent features, including the signature bright red truck. 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Abdell is proud to service the city he grew up in and to share his passion for his job with others." 

Manhattan Sideways

Related Bove Published Works from the NACOP:

·       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

     Read: The NYPD: Leading Through a National Crisis ©
                   
NYPD Employee Assistance Unit: Leading Through a National Crisis ©

NYPD Sergeants: Leading Through a National Crisis ©

NYPD Police Self Support Group: Respect, Honor, Resiliency

About Vincent

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker, author, and confidant on issues critical to America with 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 has been appointed Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker by the NYPD.  In this role he addresses ethical leadership, building morale, emotional resiliency, and suicide prevention at NYPD events, roll calls, and in published works.

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

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

He conducted 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 NYPD, FBI, the United States Military Academy, law enforcement, educators, security professionals, and students nationwide. 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

Photos:

1. Illustration NYPD FDNY (Reawakening America LLC) (RALLC)

2. Interior Rescue Co 1 (RALLC)

3. Entrance Rescue Co 1. (RALLC)

4. Entrance Engine Co 18. (RALLC)