The NYPD Police Self Support Group and The Wounded Protector - America's Epicenter of Honored Courage

A Note for American Law Enforcement

This article highlights how the NYPD Police Self Support Group exemplifies ethical leadership, resilience, and the transformative power of wounded officers—lessons that can inspire law enforcement agencies and communities across the nation.

Opening Reflection

Every great institution has a moral center—a place where its deepest values are not merely articulated, but lived. In law enforcement, that center is often found not in policy manuals or public statements, but in the quiet presence of those who have suffered deeply and yet continue to serve.

Within the New York City Police Department, that moral center is embodied in the Police Self Support Group (PSSG)—a peer-driven fraternity of officers who have endured catastrophic line-of-duty injuries, chronic conditions, or life-threatening illnesses, and who now dedicate themselves to ensuring that no member of the Department walks that road alone.

Founded in 1983, following the New Year’s Eve 1982 bombing at One Police Plaza, the PSSG emerged organically from tragedy. Over four decades later, it stands as one of the most enduring and humane expressions of ethical leadership in American policing. Today, the group numbers approximately 200 members, including a specialized Special Needs Group formed to assist officers facing life-threatening illnesses—an extension of care that will be revisited later in this article.

Their motto captures both survival and vocation with rare clarity:

Superesse et servire — “To survive, and to serve.”

A Beginning Shaped by Service

On Thursday, November 14, 2024, I delivered a presentation as the featured
speaker for the NYPD Medical Division at its facility in Corona, Queens. The invitation—extended through the leadership of Chief Supervising Surgeon Eli J. Kleinman, M.D., M.P.H.—marked the culmination of months of collaboration and finalized my appointment as the NYPD’s Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker, an unprecedented role in the Department’s history.

That day marked the beginning of an enduring collaboration with the Police Self Support Group—one that drew me into its inner circle and deepened my understanding of moral courage, affirmation, and resilience. My remarks addressed wounded morale, rising violence, ethical strain, and suicide risk—pressures felt not only in New York, but in departments across the nation.

Following that event, Peter Pallos, PSSG Secretary and Training Coordinator, invited me to address more than 100 NYPD peer-support professionals at the Police Academy.

Since that day, my work across the NYPD has continued—attending roll calls, visiting detective squads, participating in specialized unit briefings, addressing fraternal organizations, and speaking in promotion classes and major departmental events. While much of this work extends beyond PSSG membership, I consistently remind officers throughout the Department of the moral courage and institutional lessons embodied by this extraordinary group.

What the Police Self Support Group Is—and Why It Matters

Membership in the PSSG is not assigned. It is earned.

Its members have endured devastating injuries, chronic illness, or life-altering trauma—and because they have walked that road, they bring a rare kind of empathy and moral authority. Their mission is neither ceremonial nor administrative. It is a lifeline.

They support injured officers and their families. They check in during long recoveries. They advocate when systems falter. They listen without judgment when identity, purpose, and hope are shaken.

At a moment when policing nationwide is strained by public distrust, political division, and unprecedented stressors, the PSSG offers a counter-narrative: ethical leadership expressed through compassion, humility, and presence.

“The Police Self Support Group exists so that no member of this Department ever faces injury, illness, or recovery alone. Our members understand sacrifice not as an abstract, but as a lived experience. What binds us together is mutual respect—to survive, and then to serve others with dignity, compassion, and loyalty.”

— Arvid Flores, President, NYPD Police Self Support Group

The Wounded Protector™: From Philosophy to Practice

The moral architecture of the PSSG reflects what I developed as the Wounded Protector™—a framework shaped by philosophy, psychology, and lived experience.

It draws inspiration from:

• Henri Nouwen’s concept of The Wounded Healer
• Conrad Baars’ emphasis on affirmation, emotional deprivation, and conscious moral responsibility
• The Liberation Monument at Liberty View Park in Jersey City, honoring character, struggle and sacrifice – depicting an American GI carrying a survivor from a Nazi concentration camp
• The Sentinels of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in our nation’s capital, whose vigilance models disciplined presence, honoring America’s fallen

Together, these influences translate into an operational ethic: those who have suffered most deeply often possess the greatest capacity to lead, mentor, and heal.

Bearing Witness to Courage

On April 24, 2025, I returned as a guest speaker for the PSSG at the NYPD Medical Division. My presentation — “Character, Courage, Community”— focused on leadership grounded in character, resilience strengthened through connection, and the healing power of affirmation.

As members introduced themselves, their words penetrated the soul. They were testimonies of endurance, faith, and courage.

“This group was there when I needed it most—and that’s why we make sure it’s there for others.”

— Kathy Burke, Third Vice President, NYPD Police Self Support Group

A month later, on May 22, 2025, my wife and I attended the PSSG Annual Awards Dinner in Queens. What we witnessed was not merely a ceremony, but family—bound by shared struggle and a common promise: to take care of our own, guided by compassion, respect, and understanding.

Leadership Rooted in Continuity

The PSSG’s strength is sustained through quiet, consistent leadership. Peter Pallos, now in his 26th year of membership, ensures that institutional memory, peer-support training, and ethical clarity remain intact. As he emphasizes:

“Peer support works because it’s built on trust. Officers know we’ve been there—and that makes all the difference.” — Peter Pallos, Secretary & Training Coordinator, NYPD Police Self Support Group

Leadership within the group also comes from members who carry responsibility for the well-being of their peers. Dino Saoulis, Sergeant-at-Arms since 2022, reflects on the PSSG’s guiding principle:

“Our mission has always been simple: to survive, and to serve. Every officer in our Police Self Support Group understands the sacred trust we hold with each other.” — Dino Saoulis, Sergeant-at-Arms, Member since 2018

Since joining the group, I have remained in regular—often daily—contact with members. While my privileged role is to listen, affirm, and encourage, the greater gift is the inspiration I receive from these remarkable men and women.

 Final Reflections: A Lesson for the Nation

The Police Self Support Group is more than an NYPD initiative. It is a model—one that demonstrates how ethical leadership, affirmation, and resilience can be operationalized within law enforcement.

Across America, departments already have their wounded protectors—officers and families shaped by loss, injury, and sacrifice. What the PSSG shows is that their wisdom must not be overlooked. It must be honored, integrated, and trusted.

At a time when the nation debates policing, the PSSG reminds us of a deeper truth: behind every badge is a human being—wounded, hopeful, courageous—and deserving of admiration.

If American law enforcement is to experience an ethical renaissance, it will not begin with slogans. It will begin where it always has—with those who have suffered, endured, and still choose to serve.

With Gratitude

With heartfelt appreciation to all the members of the NYPD Police Self Support Group, whom I have been privileged to work with over the last few years. You are a source of inspiration, a living example of courage, and through your goodness, you will be instrumental in igniting an ethical renaissance of American policing.

About the Author:

Vincent J. Bove is an accomplished leader, educator, and public speaker specializing in ethical leadership, resiliency, and mental health awareness for law enforcement. He has worked extensively with the NYPD and other first responder organizations, delivering keynotes, workshops, and training programs that focus on suicide prevention, morale-building, and emotional fortitude. A published author and advocate for integrity and service, Bove combines practical experience with scholarly insight to inspire and equip leaders across communities.

Article has originally published in Law Officer on February 3, 2026.

Photos:

1. Vincent J. Bove as guest at the PSSG Holiday Party, with guests from the NYPD TD Canine, and group member, December 14, 2024, Queens, New York.

2. Illustration of the NYPD Police Self Support Group. Motto: Superesse Et Servire — “To Survive and To Serve.”