Law
enforcement chaplains do some or all of the following:
The police
chaplain works directly under the chief of police to accomplish 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
-
Teach officers in areas
such as Stress Management, Ethics, Family Life, and Pre-retirement classes
and courses
-
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
-
Furnish expert responses
to religious questions
-
Offer prayers at special
occasions such as recruit graduations, awards ceremonies, and city council
meetings.
-
Deal with transients and
the homeless
A law enforcement chaplain
should be an ecclesiastically certified person in good standing and endorsed for
law enforcement chaplaincy by a recognized religious body, with five (5) years
experience in ministry.
A law enforcement chaplain should be available to serve on a 24-hour call
basis, determined and governed by the head law enforcement chaplain
Law enforcement
chaplains may or may not be duly sworn police officers.
