Chaplain

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.

North Carolina Sheriff Chaplain Association Logo

Benefits of a Chaplain

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.

Chaplain Duties

Our chaplain does some or all of the following:

  • Assist at suicide incidents
  • Counsel the families of law enforcement officers and other department personnel
  • Counsel law enforcement officers
  • Counsel other members of a department
  • Deal with transients and the homeless
  • Make death notifications
  • Provide assistance to victims
  • Provide for the spiritual needs of prisoners
  • Serve as liaison with other clergy in the community
  • Serve as part of a department's Crisis Response Team
  • Visit sick or injured officers and departmental personnel in homes and hospitals
  • Work with the victim assistance advocate

Reverend Alan Wildsmith

Our chaplain is the Reverend 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.