Russellville Police Department

 

Police Chaplain

 

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.