A Clarion Call from Mississippi: Forging the Future of American Policing Through Ethical Leadership and Unwavering Resilience

Flowood, Mississippi, became a crucible for transformation on May 29, 2025.

It was my profound honor to address over 500 dedicated law enforcement professionals from across the state at the Mississippi Public Safety Summit.

My charge was clear: to deliver a message on Transforming American Policing: Ethical Leadership, Morale, and Emotional Resiliency – a message forged over four decades of unwavering commitment to community and 25 years dedicated to empowering America's protectors.

This summons to Mississippi was more than an address; it was an extension of a lifelong mission, recently amplified by my privileged appointment as the NYPD Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker.

It was a convergence of dedication, experience, and an urgent call to action, underscored by a vital collaboration with The Columbia Lighthouse Project. 

In a unity of effort, we equipped attendees with customized laminated cards – tangible tools to identify risk and, crucially, prevent suicide within their ranks.

GRATITUDE: THE BEDROCK OF PARTNERSHIP

Before charting the path forward, profound gratitude is extended to the visionary government leaders of the State of Mississippi.

Their trust in me to address Mississippi’s finest during these demanding times is a responsibility I held with the utmost humility and determination.

To every law enforcement officer and first responder in Mississippi: your daily sacrifice, your unyielding dedication to protect and serve, is the very shield of our communities.

You have my deepest respect and unwavering support.

A special commendation is unequivocally deserved by Jenna Bass, Special Projects Representative for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

Jenna’s quintessential professionalism in orchestrating every detail of my invitation, coupled with the extraordinary hospitality extended to my wife and I, transformed a professional engagement into a deeply personal and memorable experience.

THE SENTINEL: A LEGACY OF EMPOWERMENT

For a quarter-century, my engagements with law enforcement have been chronicled in The Sentinel.

This is not merely a record; it is a living resource – a beacon for law enforcement, government leaders, and communities.

The Sentinel champions the non-negotiable power of principled leadership, vigilance and collaboration with the imperative to work in unison to empower, encourage, and ignite character.

This endeavor is intrinsically linked to my driving goal: to assist law enforcement agencies in becoming national paragons of 21st Century Policing. This is a mission consistently articulated in my articles for the National Association of Chiefs of Police over the past 16 years.

HONORING SACRIFICE: THE SOUL OF OUR NATION AND OUR PROFESSION

During my address, I felt compelled to share the hallowed experiences my wife and I encountered at the World War II American military cemeteries in Italy in 2023.

We stood on that sacred ground not as tourists, but as pilgrims, honoring those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.

This profound respect for our military, this reverence for lives laid down in service to liberty, is not merely a sentiment – it is an indisputable pillar for the reawakening of our nation and a cornerstone of the Nine Principles of American Policing.

This solemn honor extends equally to our fallen law enforcement heroes, who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our communities.

From Bove journal, reflecting on the Florence American WWII Cemetery:

“On these sacred grounds lie 4,393 Americans... a large sculptured figure titled ‘The Spirit of Peace’ watches over tablets bearing 1,409 names, missing in action. Walking these hallowed grounds, we felt mystically connected to these sacred souls, a deeper appreciation of America, and profoundly aware of the price of freedom.”

 And from the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery:

“Here in Nettuno is the sacred burial ground of 7,858 Americans... 3,095 more names, missing in action, lost or buried at sea, are engraved in stone within the chapel. These visitations were enriching spiritual experiences, forever engraved into our souls.”

These experiences are not just memories; they are fuel. They ignite our resolve to serve with the same unwavering commitment.

FROM GLOBAL INSIGHTS TO URGENT ACTION: A CALL UNHEEDED IS A CRISIS INVITED

My journey, spanning time in China and suicide prevention work with law enforcement in California, culminated in a pivotal moment.

Upon returning to New Jersey after nine months abroad, a call from former NYPD Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon set in motion an initiative built on the unshakeable pillars of ethical leadership, morale, emotional resiliency, and suicide prevention.

This led to my development of an unprecedented initiative for the NYPD, and after rigorous vetting, to my appointment as the NYPD Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker.

The urgency of this mission was seared into my conscience while in California on November 7, 2023. There was due to a headline that pierced the soul: “Four current and former L.A. Sheriff’s Department employees died by suicide in a 24-hour span.”

Sheriff Robert Luna's anguished plea for his personnel to check on one another echoed the silent crisis gripping too many departments. "We are stunned," he stated, "it has sent shock waves of emotions throughout the department."

Compelled to act, I made one phone call.

ONE PHONE CALL: THE CATALYST FOR CHANGE

As every officer knows, sometimes moving mountains begins with a single, decisive act.

I called the U.S. Marshal of the SDNY, Ralph Sozio. He, in turn, made one call to the right person – the NYPD liaison in California, Detective John Lunt.

That one call ignited a chain reaction, culminating in a presentation to representatives from 18 law enforcement agencies across California.

Let this be a stark reminder: crisis demands communication.

Pick up the phone. Make the call with confidence, resolve, and unyielding commitment.

One call can transform, and indeed save, lives. This imperative spurred my article for the National Association of Chiefs of Police: "Police Suicides: Awareness, Compassion, Action."

OPERATION RESILIENCY: A LIFELINE FOR OUR PROTECTORS

Seven months ago, this conviction birthed NYPD /FDNY Operation Resiliency: Ethical Leadership, Morale, Emotional Resiliency, Suicide Prevention.

This initiative has seen me engage with peer support at NYPD and FDNY academies, the MTAPD, NYPD promotion classes, NYPD fraternal organizations, numerous Police Self Support Group presentations and events, firehouses, roll calls, and suicide prevention training. At times, I have had the honor to work in partnership with Dr. Stephen Wacshal of ConQueR Suicide.

Every interaction, every follow-up chat, reinforces the critical need for this work.

THE WOUNDED HEALER, THE ETHICAL PROTECTOR: EMBRACING OUR SHARED HUMANITY

In Mississippi, as in all my engagements, I shared the transformative wisdom of Henri Nouwen’s "The Wounded Healer."

“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.”

“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?’ but ‘How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?’”

For law enforcement, this readily translates to The Ethical Protector.

I challenged attendees to also embrace their identity as The Wounded Protector.

Each officer possesses a unique moral compass, a DNA hardwired to shield the innocent, the vulnerable, the helpless. This intrinsic drive means that wherever a Wounded Protector stands as safety and security will  prevail.

THE WOUNDED PROTECTOR: A SANCTUARY FOR THE BROKENHEARTED

Consider the young woman who approached me, her soul crying out: "I feel so broken inside... invisible... if only someone would just acknowledge me, ask if I am OK."

The brokenhearted are among us – in our families, communities, and within our departments.

We must respond with eyes and hearts wide open, with unwavering compassion and empathy.

Consider Clare, an 86-year-old woman, whom I am privileged to administer the Holy Eucharist to at a community senior residence home. Clare shared the lifelong shadow cast by her father’s suicide – NYPD Detective James Francis Carberry, lost in 1938.

Clare was ten, the first to find him. Her plea, relayed through me, is a sacred trust:

“You have the power through your encounters, observation skills, empathy, compassion, and sixth-sense to respond to the warning signs of brokenness. Do so with kindness, dignity, and affirmation – you can change, and save lives.”

THE HEALING POWER OF AFFIRMATION: IGNITING HOPE

For 45 years, I have championed the teachings of psychiatrist Dr. Conrad Baars. His core message:

Affirmation is a catalyst that ignites hope into the human soul. It recognizes, appreciates, and encourages.

As I often state, “The challenges of life can deprive individuals of unconditional love and appreciation. 

Yet, the affirmative person, the wounded healer, and for us today, the wounded protector, inspires healing of the body, mind, spirit, and emotions.”

A SACRED DUTY: THE SENTINEL’S CREED

Inspired by the honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I urged the attendees to adopt the spirit of the Sentinel’s Creed:

“My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted. In the responsibility bestowed upon me, never will I falter. And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection.”

Let this creed resonate in your noble, necessary, and admirable work. Know that you are appreciated and admired.

FINAL REFLECTION: THE LIBERATION MONUMENT – OUR ENDURING SYMBOL

Near Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty stands Nathan Rapaport’s Liberation Monument – an American soldier carrying a concentration camp survivor.

This powerful image, a testament to compassion, character, and courage, is one I frequently share. It is my fervent hope to inspire law enforcement to connect with America’s legacy of heroism and to uphold that standard in their own privileged service.

Ethical leadership is the bedrock. 

Our public servants are a national treasure. Our collective, unwavering commitment to support them will forge America's rightful destiny as a beacon of moral leadership for the world.

NOTE WELL: A LIFESAVING COLLABORATION

My recent collaboration with the Columbia Lighthouse Project (CLP) has been pivotal.

Utilizing their emotional resiliency and suicide prevention app, and distributing their awareness cards at the Mississippi Summit and to NYPD personnel, has already borne fruit.

The NYPD Health and Wellness section, recognizing the immense value of partnering with CLP, will make the CLP app available department-wide. 

This vital technology, as documented in my "Principles of American Policing" (NACOP Cover Story, Summer 2015), is essential. Principle Number Five states:

“Police deserve the latest and most effective technology to protect themselves and the public."

This collaboration is that principle in action, safeguarding the emotional resiliency of law enforcement across America.

ABOUT VINCENT 

Vincent J. Bove stands as a nationally acclaimed authority and transformative voice in ethical leadership, violence prevention, building law enforcement morale, ethical resiliency, and suicide prevention.

A sought-after national speaker, prolific author, and trusted confidant, Bove’s profound insights and actionable strategies have shaped critical discourse and fortified institutions across America.

A Prolific and Award-Winning Author:

Bove's intellectual contributions are vast, with over 325 published articles and four influential books addressing the nation's most pressing challenges in ethical leadership, violence prevention, public safety, and resiliency. Bove has an additional 500 works posted in his online newsletter titled The Sentinel.

His fourth book, Reawakening America©, earned distinction as a finalist for an ASIS International Book of the Year award, underscoring its national significance.

The seminal Listen to Their Cries© was notably sponsored by West Point for all attendees from colleges nationwide at his National Conference on Ethics in America (NCEA) presentation, a testament to its critical message. 

Bove's work has been esteemed by countless law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and community leaders.

Esteemed by America's Premier Law Enforcement Agencies:

Recognized for his unwavering commitment, Vincent was appointed Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker by the NYPD. He is a pivotal force in championing principled leadership, bolstering morale, fostering emotional resilience, and spearheading suicide prevention initiatives at department events and roll calls.

His FBI Director's Community Leadership Award underscores his profound impact. Bove has served as a recurrent keynote speaker at prestigious FBI venues, delivering powerful addresses on leadership in times of crisis, corruption, and national transformation to their audiences at Princeton University, Fort Dix, Fort Monmouth, and FBI Field Offices.

Spearheading National Safety and Leadership Initiatives:

Bove’s influence extends to safeguarding major urban centers. He developed and delivered the critical keynote series, Leadership Principles: Crisis Planning, Community Partnerships, Violence Prevention©, to fortify New York City.

These high-stakes sessions convened leaders from the NYPD, FDNY, FBI, corporate security directors, and property managers at iconic venues including:

• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• The New York Stock Exchange
• Rockefeller University
• The Union Club of New York
• Columbia University and Fordham University

Innovator in Modern Policing and Community Safety:

A testament to his proactive approach, Bove developed the groundbreaking program 21st Century Policing: America’s Ethical Protector©. 

This certification program, launched through a major conference in partnership with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (BCPO), Bergen County Police Chiefs Association (BCPCA), and Bergen County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), saw Bove direct the event and deliver its galvanizing keynote to a cross-section of local, county, and state police agencies.

His long-standing commitment to community safety is further evidenced by his 20-year service as liaison on violence prevention for the BCPCA.

The widespread adoption of Listen To Their Cries© at events like The Southern New Jersey Prosecutors Safe Schools Conference (a collaboration of seven prosecutors representing over 300 police departments and schools) and by the Bergen County Education Association (BCEA) for 279 schools, highlights his reach and effectiveness.

A Leading Voice and Advocate:

As a prominent author for the National Association of Chiefs of Police, Bove has penned 18 cover stories, numerous special reports, and sixty-five articles, shaping national law enforcement dialogue for 16 years. His compassion and authority led him to serve as spokesperson and author a report for a coalition of victim families from the Virginia Tech tragedy, amplifying their voices on a national stage.

Bove's expertise is also sought by America's military. He has delivered numerous impactful presentations at West Point and a U.S. Air Force leadership keynote at the Joint Base McGuire-Dix.  He has authored many published works honoring all branches of America’s armed forces.

Beyond his law enforcement and military advocacy, Bove has served as a trusted confidant to New York Yankees players from two world-champion teams.  This included a collaboration with twenty-eight Yankee players on his first book, a collection of personal letters to fans.

Endorsed at the Highest Levels:

The U.S. Senate itself has recognized Vincent J. Bove's exceptional standing:

“Vincent J. Bove is considered one of the foremost national experts on school and workplace violence prevention, specializing in facility protection, evacuations, terrorism prevention and leadership training." – U.S. Senate

 Related Bove Published Works by the National Association of Chiefs of Police:

America’s National Crisis: Empowering Law Enforcement Ethical Leadership, Morale, Emotional Resiliency

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

PHOTOS:

1. Mississippi Public Safety Summit Attendees, May 29, 2025. Credit: Reawakening America LLC  (RALLC)

2. Florence American World War II Cemetery, June 2023. (RALLC)

3. Collage including Bove published work on Suicide for the NACOP. (RALLC) Illustrations on right -  Credit: Sgt. Zachary Saenz, Edinburg Police Department.

4. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Bove article published by the NACOP. (Photo Credit RALLC)

5. The Liberation Monument, Jersey City, NJ. (RALLC)

6. Bove speaking at the Mississippi Public Safety Summit, May 29, 2025. (Credit Yiyi Bove for RALLC)

7. The Columbia Lighthouse Project (CLP), customized card for the Mississippi Public Safety Summit (MPSS), a collaboration of The CLP, MPSS and RALLC.