The goal of the Chaplain's program to provide support to local law enforcement officers, their mission (to protect and serve), and offer a special understanding of their unique work; supporting them and their families.  Some of the specific ways that chaplains encourage and support officers is by riding along with officers on duty, visiting police department offices and special assignment sites, providing on-scene support during death notifications and appropriately recognizing individual achievements.  The most important of the chaplain duties is the commitment to regular prayer for officers and their families.

Individual cannot simply volunteer to be a police chaplain and then find themselves in that role the next day.  The job requires many hours of training and commitment on the part of the individual serving as chaplain.  Current chaplains have participated in a number of different training opportunities, including Law Enforcement Chaplain Certification Training and Reserve Police Officer training.  Chaplains also have to be committed to obtaining a certain number of hours of on-the-job training.

Law Enforcement Chaplains hold a special and unique role. Their primary focus is to build relationships with officers regardless of their religious preference or lack of religious practice.  The ministry is available to law enforcement personnel both on and off duty as needed.  Building those relationships with law enforcement officers may often take time and requires that chaplains be aware of the unique stress on law enforcement officers.  Chaplains must be available, visible, adaptable, credible, be a good listener, and be capable of the confidentiality required to gain the officers' trust.  The rewards can be innumerable and it is in this up close and personal atmosphere that one can gain some understanding and appreciation of the authentic acts of thoughtfulness, kindness and true understanding like individuals of the law enforcement community often exemplify.

A chaplain must be certain of their calling.  If you are considering making application to the Chaplaincy Program, it is extremely important that you prayerfully consider your interest and motivation.  This must begin with a genuine desire to help not only with a local department, but also your community.  Understand that a law enforcement chaplaincy is a form of ministry in which you find life at its meanest, filthiest, most inhumane and most selfish.  However, all this points to the great need in the community for this supporting role to the part of the law enforcement officers who work in this environment each day.

A truly great ministry... Have you been called?