Placer County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy

"On a Mission of Compassion"
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A Chaplain's Roles
That to which we are dedicated...
 
 
The Chaplain's Role in the Community
 
The following is the general area of response the Community Chaplains will have toward their community...
 
  • The Chaplain shall be available to any officer/deputy to assist in any crisis situation at the officer/deputy's request.
  • The Chaplain may be called to assist law enforcement officers when there is an accident involving serious injury to provide comfort to the injured parties and their families.
  • The Chaplain shall minister to the family in any crisis situation that involves the law enforcement agency; whether bodily injury or other occasions, at the discretion of the officer/deputy in charge. He/she shall minister to both victims and members of their family in such a way as is meaningful at that time.
  • The Chaplain shall seek to contact, as soon as possible, the clergy or ministry representing the faith of victims of crisis or emergency situations, in order that they may be ministered to by individuals of their own faith on a continuing basis.
  • The Chaplain shall make death notifications, as requested by the law enforcement agency dispatcher (homicide, suicide, accidental or natural death): Messages should give particulars as to the person to be notified, such details as may be available surrounding the death, relationship to the person to be notified, and any instructions to be given to the person notified.
  • Death notifications shall be handled with great tact and delivered as quickly as possible. Generally, notification will be made in person, NOT BY PHONE. The Chaplain may render assistance in making funeral arrangements and notification of other relatives in the Placer County area.
  • The Community Chaplain will confirm with Dispatch on the Coroner's Office cognizance of this notification to be made and that the Coroner's Office has approved such notification and has confirmed the identity of the deceased.
  • There are cases when it would be helpful for a Chaplain to be accompanied by an officer/deputy -- delivering a death notice, dealing with mentally disoriented or impaired persons, an attempted suicide, or dealing with a confused elderly person, rather than going alone.
  • The Chaplain may be asked to minister to the family of those who have committed suicide.
  • The Chaplain may be asked to work with problems such as: juvenile situations, neighborhood problems, racial problems, or be utilized as a referral service. His/her orientation may be utilized at the discretion of the department.
  • The Chaplain may be asked to become involved in domestic situations only when the department feels the Chaplain's services may be of help to the family involved and the law enforcement officers involved deem the situation to be safe.
  • The Chaplain may be asked to console and comfort the victims and relatives in event of community disasters such as floods, fires, earthquakes, or explosions.
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 The Chaplain's Role in the Agencies
 
  • Chaplains shall attend training activities at the Academy as assigned.
  • Upon request of the Placer County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy administration, a Community Chaplain shall make presentations to the Recruit Academy and Recruit Orientation regarding the Community Chaplaincy. The presentations may deal with family crisis intervention, or simply acquainting the officers with the Community Chaplain Program.
  • The Chaplain shall follow proper procedure presented as outlined in this document and agency general orders as they apply.
  • The Community Chaplain shall be familiar with the communication procedures established by the law enforcement agencies and conform to them (i.e., the "radio signal" code).
  • Radio transmissions should be kept to a minimum and directives from dispatchers shall be followed promptly. The Chaplain, while on duty, will be available to the dispatcher at all times either by radio, telephone, or pager.
  • The Chaplain shall be subject to proper protocol procedures and discipline and shall report to the ranking officer when arriving at the scene of an emergency.
  • The Chaplain shall make regular reports of his/her activities as required by the Placer County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy administration.
  • The Chaplain shall not release any information to the news media or insurance agencies or attorneys regarding cases in which he/she is involved. All information secured shall be held in confidence and used only for the benefit of the persons involved.
  • The Chaplain shall not publicly criticize any law enforcement officer, department official, fellow Chaplains, or department policy or action. Any Chaplain having a grievance shall address the matter through the official channels at the Placer County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy.
The Chaplain’s Role within the Religious Community
 
  • The Chaplain shall maintain, at all times, professional relationships with the clergy of the community.
  • The Chaplain will not usurp the position of pastor or clergy at any time, nor act in any way that is ministerially unethical.