PALERMO – Today, on the occasion of what would have been his fifty-ninth birthday, police chief Mario Bignone was remembered at the Addiopizzo headquarters – a property confiscated from the mafia and returned to the community in 2010.
In the presence of his wife Giovanna Geraci, colleagues, and friends, Bignone was honored by representatives of Addiopizzo, Maurizio Calvino, Chief of Police in Palermo, and Maurizio de Lucia, Chief Prosecutor of the Sicilian capital. These individuals shared a significant part of their personal and professional journey with Mario.
“Mario Bignone,” highlighted the Addiopizzo representatives, “was not only a police officer of outstanding ability, who served the State and made a crucial contribution to the fight against Cosa Nostra. He was, above all, the first police official, during his time in the organized crime division of Palermo’s mobile squad, to open his office to us back in 2006. This marked the beginning of a collaborative relationship that led, for the first time, to entrepreneurs and shopkeepers denouncing the extortion racket.”
“In Mario,” said Police Chief Maurizio Calvino, “the human and professional aspects aligned perfectly. His presence had such an impact on our lives that we can truly speak of a before and after. He broke down internal barriers, refined techniques, and brought enthusiasm to an already solid structure. The method he left us will remain with us forever.”
A pioneer in his vision and ability to include and engage both citizens and the social fabric, Bignone paid attention to relationships beyond roles, especially in the field of prevention and resistance to extortion rackets and Cosa Nostra.
During the gathering, a particularly meaningful moment was the reading of a letter written by Mario Bignone, addressed to his team and Addiopizzo following the arrests of Raccuglia and Nicchi, carried out by his investigative squad.
The letter, read by Alessandra Perrone of Addiopizzo and Piergiorgio Di Cara of the State Police, powerfully conveyed his inclusive vision, ethical sense of service, deep duty, and his aspiration for a lasting cultural change built on courage, loyalty, and genuine human relationships.
“The word he used – service – says it all,” emphasized Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia. “It’s the most authentic expression of what motivates the law enforcement community. That letter is a profound testimony to how he saw his work: as a true mission. Like him and like Calvino, I too am an ‘emigrant to the South,’ and I continue to remember him every day, trying to honor his memory and his unique ability to act with resolve, never raising his voice.”
One of the first to believe in the possibility of a genuine alliance between citizens and law enforcement, Bignone played a key role in building a relationship based on trust and shared responsibility.
The day concluded with the screening of a video retracing the most significant moments of his human and professional life – a tribute in images and footage that captures the essence of a life dedicated to serving the State, and to the care and respect of human relationships.
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