Steve Neal – Served as a highly respected law enforcement officer in Virginia for more than 29-years. During his tenure he was fortunate to experience a wide range of assignments, which included Uniform Operations, Criminal Investigations, Covert Operations, Director of the Emergency Communications Center, Director of Training, Support Services Commander, and Inspector for the Office of Professional Standards. He has comprehensive knowledge regarding selection and development of a public safety workforce, expertise regarding covert investigations, and a special affinity for media relations.
Steve’s distinguished law enforcement career includes many awards and commendations. He is proud of his reputation as a “cop’s cop,” a leader who places the welfare of those under his command as his top priority. He is respected by those who have served with him, and has been a mentor and coach to many officers. Steve is well known as a man of strong values, straight talk, and true to his word. Rebelling against injustice since childhood, he embodies the doctrine, “When You’re Right You Fight,” regardless of consequences.
Steve was the architect of Public Safety University (PSU), a college degree partnership between the public safety community and the University of Richmond. Under his leadership, more than two-hundred and fifty public safety officers obtained Bachelor and/or Master degrees through the PSU program.
Co-founder and partner of the Leatherman & Neal public safety consulting team, Steve enjoyed providing leadership seminars for peace officers for more than a decade. In addition to his consultancy, he has worked as a media contributor, furnishing analysis, consultation, and crime commentary for local television broadcasters. Steve appeared as a law enforcement authority on the nationally syndicated television show For My Man.
Steve Neal is the author of the broadly praised books Rogue Justice, Toxic Boss Blues, and co-author of Bearing Witness to Evil. Rogue Justice is a leadership call to arms, celebrating resilience, courage, and the unwavering spirit of those who challenge the status quo for the greater good. Toxic Boss Blues is a leadership book that explores the devastating cost of noxious supervisory mismanagement. Bearing Witness to Evil is a true crime book that features 15 prominent crime cases from Steve’s career, and a fascinating “Story Behind the Story” segment for each incident.
Steve has appeared as a guest on many podcasts, and he has written several articles that have been published online by Law Enforcement Today, Law Officer, and Police 1 magazines.