HomeMy Public PortalAboutAB 03-172 attachment - Police ChaplainChaplain Program
What Would a Chaplain Do?
1. A Chaplain provides counsel for officers and members of the department as well as their families. He may visit sick and injured officers
and personnel in their home and hospital.
2. A Chaplain assists officers with death notifications, ethics, family life, assist at suicide incidents, serve as liaisons with other clergy
in community, offer prayers, serve on review boards, and any number of other activities to assist the officers in the performance of their duties.
3. A Chaplain may serve in debriefing
critical incidents, and may be called upon to assist the Crisis Response Teams in their duties.
A Chaplain may serve in any other area of “religious”counsel as requested. All conversations
with the chaplain are confidential.
Why Have a Chaplain?
Today, more than ever, law enforcement agencies need religious guidance, counseling and assistance to officers, their families,
and their communities. No one is confronted with more situations that demoralize and create emotional, mental, and spiritual burdens than the law enforcement officer. These burdens
also affect the officer’s family.
Many times, an officer needs to express frustrations and problems to one who understands the circumstances of the law enforcement world yet, is detached
enough to not be emotionally involved. A chaplain serves as an on-call resourse to the police department, individual officers and the families of police officers.
What Training Will
a Chaplain Get?
Chaplain training will be done in conjunction with Idaho State Police (ISP). ISP chaplains are required to have the endorsement of their ecclesiastical authority and
a minimum of three years experience. Chaplains are urged to add further training to help them as law enforcement chaplains. Additional training is provided through a commissioned ISP
chaplain.
ISP training includes: (1) ISP procedures, (2) normal radio use, (3) death notification procedures, (4) ISP history, (5) emergency medical actions, (6) police personality
and related difficulties, (7) appearance, (8) acting only on officer’s approval, (9) on scene procedures, (10) dismissal from the program, (11) ethics of law enforcement and religion.
The
Chaplain will seek to become a certified ISP chaplain and may serve as the ISP chaplain for
this region as well. Pastor Fields will begin training by attending ISP training (October-November) mentioned above.
What will it Cost?
The only initial cost would be ISP training.
ISP training will be minimal (if any) and Pastor Fields will pay for ISP training. Other cost that could come up is (1) future training and (2) any needed equipment.