Law Enforcement Chaplains serve as support system to both sworn LEO’s as well as the civilians that work in a Law Enforcement Agency.  Although not their primary responsibility, a Chaplain may also serve those residents who reside within the jurisdiction of the agency they serve.

Chaplains are typically fully ordained and licensed by a recognized denomination.  They are usually required to hold membership/affiliation with organizations such as the International Conference of Police Chaplains or the Chaplaincy Full Gospel Churches.  In some cases, the Chaplains is a former law Enforcement Officer.  That is a huge benefit when dealing with the “troops”, as the Chaplain has been there, done that, and can relate on a personal level what the person he is talking too is experiencing.

Most simply put, the Chaplaincy is a Ministry of Presence.  Where a Pastor is church-based and speaks to an entire congregation, that audience typically is not in crisis or experiencing trauma.  Pastors primarily minister to people of the same religious faith….their main role is to serve the people of their own church who share the same faith.

A Law Enforcement Chaplain serves in a completely different environment.  His/Hers is a ministry of presence, most often one-on-one.  Chaplains are trained to minister to all faiths without pushing a specific denomination or belief.  The Chaplain’s concern is to help the individual overcome a specific problem or work through a traumatic situation.

Chaplains work in some environments that Pastors seldom— if ever— experience….fatal accidents, murders, active shooter events, suicides, SWAT call-outs, crisis/hostage negotiations, death notifications, line of duty deaths, etc.  As well some are specifically trained and certified in different forms of Traumatic Grief Counseling, Peer-to-Peer Support, Critical Incident Stress Management and Debriefings, Diversity Care in Traumatic Grief, and many more.

Chaplains are commonly trained in Stop the Bleed and other more advanced First Aid techniques that could be useful in the sometimes chaotic environment they may find themselves in.

 The way Chaplains are utilized in agencies passes the “Lemon” test, established by the Supreme Court in the 1971 Lemon vs Kurtzman case. This means Chaplains must have a secular purpose, cannot advance nor inhibit religion, and cannot “excessively entangle” government with religion.

Police Chaplains have a range of responsibilities that vary from agency to agency. In addition to supporting officers struggling with issues such as burnout, stress or trauma, some chaplains also assist officers with some of their duties. These can include tasks like death notifications, crime victim support and homeless outreach.

After traumatic incidents Chaplains organize a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing to assist those involved with processing what took place, as well as identifying those who might need additional, more long-term counseling.

In some agencies, chaplains are also taking an active role in community policing as LEOs look to bridge the post-Ferguson divide and ease tensions. Chaplains may at times accompany officers on their shift and serve as a calming presence in everything from traffic stops to domestic disputes.

In every instance, the Chaplain’s first responsibility is to you the First Responder. Whether you are Commissioned Law Enforcement, 911 Operator, Agency Dispatch, Fire Fighter, Paramedic, Correctional Officer, or any employee of a First Responder Agency it matters not. You are all First Responders, and all can carry the burden of your responsibilities.