STATEMENT OF RECORD
On August 13, 2026, Vincent J. Bove, NYPD Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker, returned to the NYPD’s 75th Precinct in Brooklyn to continue an initiative centered on affirmation, gratitude, ethical leadership, morale, emotional fortitude, American ideals, and the nobility of police service.
The 75th Precinct serves East New York and Cypress Hills, one of six precincts identified by the City of New York’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force as having the highest gun violence rates in the city.[i] That demanding environment provides important context for the challenges faced by the personnel assigned to the command.
The initiative reached at least 150 members of the NYPD, including 15 officers at the initial roll call, more than 20 detectives in the Detective Squad, more than 75 personnel at a specialized deployment-group roll call (Mobile Field Force), members of Youth Services, and numerous individual encounters with officers, sergeants, lieutenants, and command personnel during more than three hours at the precinct.
The return grew from the leadership of Lieutenant Barbara Fischer, commander of the 75th Precinct Detective Squad, following an earlier engagement at the command on April 4, 2025, when Bove addressed two roll calls and the Detective Squad. Fischer subsequently invited Bove to return to speak with her detectives and also opened communication with Deputy Inspector Dion Hinds, Commanding Officer of the 75th Precinct, regarding an expanded engagement with the command, including the uniformed roll call and the Mobile Field Force personnel assembled at the precinct. Before the day’s remarks, Bove met personally with Hinds, whose gracious and professional welcome and authorization of Bove’s engagement with the command helped make the expanded initiative possible.
THE JOURNEY TO THE 75TH
The journey to the 75th Precinct was itself part of the purpose.
The day began with a NJ Transit train into Penn Station, followed by familiar encounters with Amtrak police officers—men and women I regularly encounter and make a point of thanking for their service. From Penn Station, the journey continued across Manhattan to the East Side, where I boarded the M15 bus south along Second Avenue toward Chinatown. From there, I continued by the C train from Canal Street into Brooklyn, getting off at Shepherd Avenue and walking to the 75th Precinct on Sutter Avenue.
The choice to travel this way was deliberate.
Public transportation places me among the people of the city. It creates opportunities for encounters, conversations and expressions of gratitude with the police officers encountered along the way—men and women safeguarding the streets and communities through which I travel.
There is also something important about arriving this way. It keeps the work grounded in the life of the city and avoids any sense of distance or elitism. The purpose is not to be served, but to serve; not to remain apart from the people and officers encountered along the way, but to remain connected to them.
That spirit of human encounter began long before I reached the 75th Precinct.
INTRODUCTION — THE FLAG AND THE CALLING
Arriving early has always been an important part of these engagements. Before a formal roll call begins, there is an opportunity to meet officers personally, listen to their stories and learn something about the people behind the uniforms.
A simple question often opens the door:
Why did you become a police officer?
The answers from some of the younger officers at the 75th Precinct were unforgettable. For some, becoming a police officer had been a dream since childhood. They had always wanted to protect people. Now they were living the dream they had carried for years.
Photo: Vincent J. Bove for Reawakening America LLC
Those encounters provided a powerful starting point for the day.
Before the first roll call began, I tracked down the American flag and moved it into a prominent position beside the podium, where it could be displayed with the dignity and respect it deserved. The flag was not simply part of the room. It was part of the message.
The officers were reminded that they represent more than themselves. They represent their loved ones, their profession, the NYPD, the communities entrusted to their protection—and the ideals of a free nation.
Walking among the officers rather than remaining behind the podium made the encounter personal. The purpose was not simply to deliver remarks, but to affirm, encourage, express gratitude, uplift, motivate and inspire these men and women—and to remind them to be proud of the protectors they have chosen to become.
Throughout the day, the message remained consistent: lift one another, encourage one another and affirm one another.
Because those who spend their lives protecting others also need to be reminded of the nobility of the calling they answered.
THE FLAG, THE BADGE, AND THE FREEDOM THEY PROTECT
The first roll call set the tone for the day.
Fifteen officers stood together as the American flag occupied its place beside the podium. While speaking about what the flag represents, I physically touched it as a sign of respect. The conversation was about more than the mechanics of a roll call. It was about liberation, freedom and the responsibility that comes with both.
For these officers, that responsibility is not theoretical. It is carried into the streets every day.
The badge identifies them as members of the NYPD, but the meaning behind it reaches further. They represent their families and loved ones, their fellow officers, their Department and the communities they have sworn to protect. They also represent the ideals of a nation whose freedoms can sometimes be appreciated most deeply by those who have seen other parts of the world.
Eight visits to China over the past decade have provided a personal perspective on that reality. Even thousands of miles from New York, people know of the NYPD and recognize the men and women who protect the people of this city. That recognition speaks to the reach of the Department and to the responsibility carried by every officer who wears its badge.
The comparison was not about disparaging another nation. It was about appreciating what Americans possess—and reminding those entrusted with protecting it that freedom carries responsibility.
The American flag therefore became more than a backdrop to the conversation. It became a reminder that the officers standing beneath it had chosen a profession rooted in service to a free people.
There was another connection to that responsibility.
I also shared my visits to World War II military cemeteries in Italy, which left a lasting impression: row after row of young Americans who gave their lives defending civilization in another generation. Standing among those graves creates an almost mystical awareness that the responsibility to protect others does not belong to one generation alone – not only on distant shores, but right here on the homefront.
Those men were protectors in their time.
The men and women of the NYPD are protectors in theirs.
Different circumstances. Different uniforms. Different threats. Yet an enduring responsibility connects them: the willingness to stand between danger and the people entrusted to their care.
You are protectors.
That was the message beneath the flag on August 13—not merely to make officers feel appreciated, but to make them proud of the noble calling they had chosen.
LIEUTENANT FISCHER AND THE DETECTIVES OF THE 75TH
The Detective Squad room was filled. Every desk was occupied, with more than 20 NYPD detectives gathered for the encounter.
These were seasoned members of the Department who had carried the responsibilities of police work for years. They understood the demands of the profession, the difficult circumstances that come with it, and the weight of experience that accumulates over time.
After sharing remarks about their service, sacrifices, and the importance of holding onto the ideals that first brought them into policing, I invited Lieutenant Fischer to share her own thoughts with her detectives—and with me.
Standing beside her, I listened as she spoke with remarkable warmth and sincerity about the men and women she worked alongside: their dedication, their sacrifices for the community, the difficult and heartbreaking circumstances they encounter, and the perseverance they demonstrate in continuing to serve.
As she spoke, I handed each detective a Liberation Card.
There was something especially powerful about that moment. Their lieutenant was affirming them in her own words, while each detective received a personal expression of gratitude and encouragement.
That is what affirmation can look like in practice. Not a slogan. Not a formal exercise. A leader recognizing the people beside her—and those people knowing that their service is seen.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EXPERIENCE
Experience changes a police officer. Years of service bring difficult calls, heartbreaking circumstances and moments that can test even the strongest commitment to the profession.
But experience should not extinguish the purpose that brought someone to the badge. It should deepen it.
For the detectives in that room, that meant recognizing the responsibility that comes with being the veterans of the profession. Younger officers are now entering the same calling with the idealism and excitement that many of their predecessors once carried.
They will watch the experienced officers around them.
They will learn from how veterans speak about the profession, how they treat their colleagues, how they respond to adversity and whether they continue to believe that protecting others is a noble calling.
That places a responsibility on those who have been around the block.
Pass on what is worth keeping.
Encourage the young officer who is still discovering the profession. Remind that officer that difficult experiences do not have to erase the ideals that brought him or her to the badge. Be the veteran whose example strengthens rather than diminishes the next generation.
The young officer brings the idealism.
The experienced officer brings the wisdom earned through service.
When those two meet, the profession becomes stronger.
That is how the nobility of the calling survives—not by preserving the past unchanged, but by passing its best qualities forward.
LEADERSHIP THAT OPENS THE DOOR
The four principles shared with Deputy Inspector Hinds—ethical leadership, morale, emotional resilience and suicide prevention—were not abstract concepts. They were intended to reach the people carrying the daily responsibilities of policing at the 75th Precinct.
Hinds expressed his appreciation for the initiative and affirmed the importance of bringing those principles directly to the men and women of the command.
That affirmation reflected an important truth: supporting the ethical and emotional well-being of officers is not separate from the mission of policing. It strengthens the people who must carry that mission forward.
The 75th Precinct serves a community where the responsibilities of policing are substantial. Its officers carry those responsibilities every day, and the strength of a command depends not only upon operational effectiveness, but also upon the character, morale and resilience of the people who carry its mission.
Leadership often begins simply by opening the door.
A BROADER CIRCLE OF PROTECTORS
The day’s reach extended well beyond the first roll call and the Detective Squad.
More than 75 NYPD personnel assembled at the 75th Precinct for a special Mobile Field Force roll call, bringing together a broad cross-section of the Department. Personnel represented a variety of assignments and specialized functions, with identifiers reflecting the Police Academy, Strategic Response Group, Emergency Service, various precincts from throughout the department, investigative and other specialized units.
Standing before such a diverse gathering reinforced an important point: assignments may differ, but the responsibility to protect remains constant.
The message was one of gratitude, encouragement and pride in the profession. Different assignments place different demands upon officers, but each remains part of the larger mission of protecting New Yorkers.
The emphasis was also unmistakable: lift one another up. Encourage one another. Affirm one another.
That message was not reserved for one group or one rank. It was part of every encounter throughout the day.
They stood together, representing different corners of the Department, but the message remained personal.
Every badge represented a person.
Every person represented a commitment to protect.
And every protector deserves to know that the work is seen, the sacrifice is appreciated and the mission remains worthy of the uniform.
THE HUMAN ENCOUNTER BEHIND THE UNIFORM
Not every meaningful encounter at the 75th Precinct took place before a large gathering.
The day also included time with Youth Services personnel and numerous individual encounters throughout the command. These quieter moments carried the same fundamental message as the larger roll calls: policing is ultimately about people.
The members of Youth Services were personally thanked for the work they do with young people in the community. Their role extends beyond enforcement. It includes mentoring, guiding, protecting, building relationships and helping young people see possibilities for their own futures.
Some of the most consequential police encounters may never appear in an arrest report or statistical summary. A conversation with a young person, a trusted relationship or a moment of encouragement can shape how that person sees law enforcement—and perhaps how that person sees his or her own future.
Throughout the more than three hours at the precinct, there was time to shake hands, exchange a few words, listen and look people in the eye. Over 100 Liberation Cards were distributed personally across the day’s various groups. Each encounter became an opportunity to pause, acknowledge the individual behind the badge and express gratitude for the service being given.
Photo: Vincent J. Bove for Reawakening America LLC
For the detectives, the gesture carried an additional dimension. Cards with my personal cell phone number were provided to Lieutenant Fischer, so that any detective who wished could reach out for a confidential conversation whenever needed.
The offer was simple: a listening ear, a brother willing to stand beside another protector.
It was not a formal institutional program.
It was a personal commitment.
A police department is an institution, but policing is experienced one human encounter at a time. Behind every uniform is a person carrying responsibilities, relationships, memories and experiences that may never be visible to the public.
Affirmation begins by seeing the person.
WHEN AFFIRMATION BECOMES RECIPROCAL
The purpose of the visit was to encourage the people who spend their lives encouraging and protecting others. Yet somewhere between the first roll call, the Detective Squad, the Mobile Field Force gathering and the quieter individual encounters, something unexpected happened.
The affirmation became reciprocal.
The intention was to give something—to remind officers that their service matters, that their sacrifices are appreciated and that the profession they chose remains worthy of pride.
But the response from the men and women encountered throughout the day was humbling.
Their openness, respect and willingness to engage were reminders that the human encounter works in both directions. A few words offered in the right place can reach someone when they need them most. A conversation can continue after the speaker has left. A simple expression of gratitude can remain with someone longer than expected.
Some individuals subsequently reached out, creating opportunities for continued encouragement and support. Those encounters reinforced something central to this work: we cannot always know what another person is carrying, or when a few words of affirmation may arrive at precisely the right moment.
That is why encouragement cannot be reserved for moments of crisis.
It has to become part of the culture.
The Protector philosophy begins with a simple recognition: those who spend their lives protecting others also need people willing to stand beside them.
The protector is still human.
The badge carries responsibility. The calling remains noble. And the culture surrounding the badge should help those who wear it remain strong enough to carry both.
On August 13, the officers of the 75th Precinct were reminded of something worth carrying forward:
Lift one another. Encourage one another. Affirm one another.
Because the strongest protectors are not those who believe they must stand alone.
They are those who understand that they stand together.
You are protectors.
SELECTED LAW OFFICER ARTICLES by Vincent J. Bove
Respect Is the Badge: The Heart of the 21st-Century Ethical Officer
A reflection on respect as the defining standard of ethical policing and the foundation of public trust—carried through leadership, conduct, human encounter, and every exercise of authority.
https://www.lawofficer.com/respect-is-the-badge/
The Quiet Police Crisis: Emotional Fortitude and the Strength to Protect the Protector
Examines the unseen emotional burdens carried by those who serve and the importance of affirmation, ethical leadership, morale, and emotional fortitude in strengthening the protector before crisis occurs.
https://www.lawofficer.com/quiet-police-crisis/
The Silent Wound in Policing: The Antidote to Disillusionment, Discouragement, and Burnout
Explores the cumulative effects of discouragement and disillusionment within policing and identifies authentic affirmation, encouragement, and human connection as essential to restoring hope, morale, and the ethical strength of the protector.
https://www.lawofficer.com/the-silent-wound/
COMPLETE LAW OFFICER CHRONOLOGY — VINCENT J. BOVE
A comprehensive collection of Vincent J. Bove’s published work in Law Officer, reflecting an ongoing body of work in ethical leadership, moral courage, character, emotional fortitude, officer resilience, public trust, and the protection of those who serve.
https://www.lawofficer.com/author/vbove/
[i] City of New York, Mayor’s Office, Blueprint for Community Safety: Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, 2023, “Focus on the Most Impacted Communities,” identifying Precinct 75 — East New York and Cypress Hills among the six communities with the highest gun violence rates in the city.
https://www.nyc.gov/content/dam/nycgov/mayors-office/downloads/pdf/press-releases/2023/Blueprint-Community-Safety.pdf
