|
 No
one is confronted with more situations that demoralize and create
emotional, mental and spiritual burdens than today's law enforcement
officer. These burdens also affect the officer's family and other
members of his or her department. Law enforcement agencies need the
specialized guidance, counseling and assistance for their officers,
families and communities.
A
law enforcement chaplain is a minister with special interest and
training for providing pastoral care in the high powered and dangerous
world of law enforcement. This pastoral care is offered to all people,
regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, creed,
or religion. The chaplain does not recruit people to his or her church
affiliation. The law enforcement chaplain is led in his or her own faith
to be available and ready to serve those in need. The chaplain's
ministry provides a source of strength to the law enforcement officers
and their families, other department members, the community, and the
incarcerated.
The
law enforcement officer's pastor in private life, although trained in
ministry, is not necessarily aware of the particular problems and
dangers faced by officers.
Chaplains listen and participate in the workplace of law enforcement
officers with empathy and understanding, advising calmly in the midst of
turmoil and danger, and offering assistance when appropriate or
requested.
Our chaplain does some or all of the
following:
- Counsel law enforcement officers
- Counsel other members of a department
- Counsel the families of law enforcement officers and other
department personnel
- Visit sick or injured officers and departmental personnel in
homes and hospitals
- Make death notifications
- Provide assistance to victims
- Serve as part of a department's Crisis Response Team
- Assist at suicide incidents
- Serve as liaison with other clergy in the community
- Provide for the spiritual needs of prisoners
- Deal with transients and the homeless
- Work with the victim assistance advocate
Our chaplain is
the Rev. Alan Wildsmith who is also the pastor of the Murphy
Presbyterian Church. He has been voluntarily serving the sheriff’s
office since 1999.
If you are
interested in helping to serve in this capacity please contact the
sheriff’s office. |
