Training Police Chaplains Might Receive

Chaplains that work with law enforcement personnel receive specialized training to be able to
effectively work with and provide spiritual and emotional care for citizens and law enforcement
personnel. Law enforcement chaplains typically have previous pastoral care experience for
more than two years officiating at marriages, performing funerals, praying with and counseling
congregant members. Some chaplains have prior police or military backgrounds before
making the decision to become a chaplain.

Stress Management
Law enforcement chaplains are trained to recognize special situations that can cause extra
stress on law enforcement personnel and the personnel's family. Working long hours and
always living with the possibility of being put into life threatening situations often cause worry
and can develop into anxiety. The chaplain learns counseling techniques to help alleviate or
at least mentally and emotionally reconcile these concerns.

Death Notifications
The law enforcement chaplain will often ride with officers during routine shifts and will can act
as a go between with the police, victims and medical staff. Often times, the chaplain will be
the one to notify a deceased's next of kin of the recent death. Law enforcement chaplains
receive training to handle a wide range of responses from the next of kin including anger,
hostility, trauma and shock. The chaplain can offer to further assist the family with prayer,
scriptures or getting in touch with the family's preferred member of the clergy. If the family
does not subscribe to any certain spiritual beliefs, the chaplain may opt to leave resources
such as low cost counselors in their local area that the family may want to take advantage of
later.

Funerals
Law enforcement chaplains receive training to perform funerals for law enforcement personnel
and their families. The chaplain can consult with the family and help the family decide on the
best type of service to perform on a case-by-case basis. Chaplains also provide spiritual care
and spiritual counseling for grieved family members during this time.

Confidentiality
Chaplains working with law enforcement do not interfere with officers actions while on duty. All
chaplains understand that things discussed between themselves and individual can be
considered as confidential. Law enforcement chaplains, although are allowed to keep certain
information private, they are required to report anything where a person's life in harm's way
both adult or child.

Sensitivity
Law Enforcement chaplains receive training in cultural and sensitivity issues since chaplains will
end up working with a wide range of people on any given day or night. Chaplains understand
how to work with the mindset of deeply rooted cultural and spiritual beliefs of others to bring
about some levels of peace or understanding during traumatic or stressful events.