Community and Law Enforcement Chaplains

About Chaplains

First Responder Chaplains are protected by the First Amendment and guided by Supreme Court decisions (i.e. Lemon v. Kurtzman, 1971)

First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Supreme Court:

Programs must have a substantial “secular purpose.”
A program’s primary goal cannot be to advance or inhibit a particular religion.
Government agencies cannot interfere excessively in the operation of the program.

Community Chaplains

Crisis Intervention on Scene
Evacuation Scene Support
School Crisis Support
Family Assistance Center Support
Follow-Up Service
Search and Rescue Assistance
Provide Death Notifications / Grief Support

Community Chaplain Training

Training includes 100 hours of academic, scenario, and field training.

Code of Conduct
Caring for those in Crisis
Trauma & Grief
Death Notifications
Suicide and the aftermath
School Chaplains
Law Enforcement Culture/Expectations
Crime Scene Integrity
Search & Rescue Support
Chaplain Care/Support

"The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV)

Law Enforcement Chaplains

Critical Incident Stress Management/Debriefing/Defusing
Post Traumatic Event Counseling
Line of Duty Death Funeral Planning/Officiating
Home/Hospital Visitation
Graduation/Promotion Ceremonies
Spiritual Guidance and Support (when requested)
Ride Along
Attend Briefings

Law Enforcement Chaplain Training

Training includes 100 hours of academic, scenario, and field training (must first complete Community Chaplain training).

Privileged Communication
Law Enforcement Chaplain Ethical Standards
Law Enforcement Scene Safety Procedures
Ceremonies & Events (Includes Flag Protocol)
Law Enforcement Death Notifications
Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness/Prevention
Officer Involved Shooting Aftermath & Counseling
Law Enforcement Family Support
Law Enforcement PTSI
Responding to Critical Incidents
Line of Duty Death