Steve Neal served as a law enforcement officer in Virginia for more than 29 years. 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 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 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 political consequences.
Steve was the architect of Public Safety University (PSU), a partnership between the public safety community and the University of Richmond. 235 law enforcement and fire 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 more than a decade. In addition to his consultancy, he has worked as a media contributor; furnishing analysis, consultation, and crime commentary for television broadcasters. Steve appeared as a law enforcement authority on the nationally syndicated television show For My Man.
In addition to Toxic Boss Blues, Steve is co-author of the broadly praised book Bearing Witness to Evil. He has written several articles that have been published online by Law Enforcement Today, PoliceOne, and Law Officer magazine.