What We Do
Emergency Scene Response
First Responder Days
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Emergency Scene Response
Approximately 300 times a year (2023 looks like it will be 320) local law enforcement agency personnel will call our emergency line requesting assistance with an individual, a family, or a traumatic event. Our chaplains respond 24/7 at any time day or night, in any kind of weather. Upon our arrival ‘on scene’ we become part of the first response team attending to emotional, logistical, or physical needs. We are accepted into homes as trusted responders at a family’s dark time of need. Whether the cause of the death is natural, accidental, suicidal, or homicidal; we are prepared to answer questions and address needs, thus freeing law enforcement personnel to take care of necessary business in an efficient manner. In taking care of practical needs chaplains have been known to call funeral homes, assist with the task of informing other family members, do dishes, warm up soup, sit on the floor with kids and crayons, and even sit with the dog.
Critical Incidents
For All Placer
County Schools
Critical Incidents
For All Placer
County Schools
PCLEC enjoys a warm and trusted relationship with administrators of the many schools in Placer County. All too often a tragedy strikes that has a significant impact on students and faculty on a given campus. Accidents, suicides, overdoses, medical events of students or popular faculty will affect everyone in the campus community. In those moments Placer Chaplains will come alongside school counselors and administrators to provide assistance and emotional care. The cooperation of mental health staff and chaplains creates an environment of support for all on the campus. As we set up quiet rooms or opportunities for students to gather, console one another, write good-bye notes or letters of condolence to the grieving family; the campus community begins to take the first steps toward healing.
Every 15 Minutes
Every 15 Minutes
A number of years ago national statistics revealed that every fifteen minutes someone was killed in an alcohol related traffic accident. In response to that, an educational program was created for high school students to illustrate and warn of the dangers of drinking driving. In Placer County the E15M program is a cooperation of the high school, CHP, emergency medical and fire response, local hospitals, local law enforcement, the coroner’s office, and Placer County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy. Chaplains provide mock death notifications to participating families and conduct a “parents’ retreat”. These mock notifications also serve a great training tool for our academy cadets, preparing them for delivering a real notification. We also provide monitoring of students and emotional support during the staged accident scene and funeral service the second day. E15M has been an effective, high impact program and we are privileged to be a part of the Placer County team making a difference in Placer County high schools.
The Right Choice
The Right Choice
With the rising trend in drug use, fentanyl poisoning, and easy access for teens and pre-teens, the need for drug use education is paramount. The old D.A.R.E. was effective in helping students understand the disastrous effects drugs can have in a student’s life. In recent years the SpecOps team of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office has developed a program for middle school aged students which exposes them to the social, physical, and legal consequences of illicit drug use. As students move from one station to another, the consequences are role-played and illustrated. At the next to last station the chaplaincy will conduct a funeral service for one of the students pre-selected to be missing from the group due to an overdose death. In the final station, students are encouraged to talk about what they learned and the feelings that arise when a friend is taken from them. Dialogue in this station indicates a profound impact on students and their understanding of the importance of a drug-free lifestyle.
National
Night Out
National
Night Out
Nationwide, the first Tuesday of August is designated as a time for first responders and communities to come together to express mutual appreciation. Each community and neighborhood watch groups gather to host first responders for Q and A sessions, community and agency updates, and build rapport around BBQ’s, desserts, root beer floats and more. Chaplains participate with each local law enforcement agency visiting these community parties to promote awareness in the community and build relationships with officers. Invariably someone in the crowd will offer a testimonial to the benefit a chaplain provided during the loss of a loved-one.
Mutual Aid/
Major Incident
Mutual Aid/
Major Incident
All too often, Placer or one of our surrounding counties will experience a massive incident that over-burdens that county’s resources. Here in Northern California it is often a disastrous forest fire. But incidents such as train derailments, hazardous material spills on I-80, accidents, mass casualty events or active shooters also occur. In those cases we will partner with neighboring chaplaincies and local Health and Human Services departments to provide resources for trauma care and support. We are commonly listed as a resource on the Incident Command Structure organizational chart to assist in the supply chain for logistical and human needs. Events have included the Lincoln (CA) propane tanker fire, the Camp Fire in Butte County (Paradise, CA), Galleria Mall (Roseville, CA) fire/active shooter, and the recent Mosquito Fire.
Battle of the
Badges
Battle of the
Badges
Each Christmas season the mounted equestrian units from CHP and Placer County Sheriff’s Office square off to see who can collect the most money by ringing the bell for Salvation Army. Generally held at the Bass Pro Shop in Rocklin, personnel from each department take turns ringing the bell to bring shoppers’ attention to their red kettle. Each agency brings their mounted patrol unit and displays the majestic animals trained in crowd control tactics. Kids of all ages can pet the horses and often meet a K-9 officer or sit in an off-road search and rescue vehicle. Of course stickers are available for placing badges on shirts or hats. Chaplains are there to encourage the kids and generally take a turn ringing one of the two bells. It is a great holiday event and raises money for Salvation Army’s holiday activities to benefit the Placer community.
Shop With
A Cop
First Responder Days
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Shop With
A Cop
Every December, just prior to Christmas, the various law enforcement agencies in Placer County will each select a handful of young people whose families have significant financial needs. Each agency raises funds and provides an opportunity for that young person to purchase gifts for their family for Christmas. All of the agencies and all of the kids will descend on a local variety store retailer groups of officers, deputies or rangers will accompany the child, helping them select $200 worth of gifts. As chaplains, we are in the mix with officers to help with finding, selecting, fitting the gifts for the kids. It is amazing to see the best come out of these young people as they now have opportunity to bless other family members generously.
Mike Davis
Memorial
Baseball
Tournament
Mike Davis
Memorial
Baseball
Tournament
On October 24, 2014 Placer County detective Michael D. Davis was killed in the line of duty in a massive manhunt for a suspect who had earlier shot and killed Sacramento County Deputy Danny Oliver. Each year since 2014, the Tahoe station of PCSO has organized and conducted a softball tournament held on the field that bears Mike’s name in memorium; a field where he had played many recreation league games. The two day tournament features teams from various local PD’s, first response agencies, County offices, and competitive recreational teams. The proceeds benefit PCLEC so we are there as scorekeepers, cheer leaders, and sometimes hecklers of the deputies and officers participating.
Mike Davis
Flag Football
Tournament
Mike Davis
Flag Football
Tournament
On October 24, 2014 Placer County detective Michael D. Davis was killed in the line of duty in a massive manhunt for a suspect who had earlier shot and killed Sacramento County Deputy Danny Oliver. In 2015 the “Fight for the Flag” football tournament was renamed in memory of Mike. Held on the field at Loomis’ Del Oro High School, teams from local PD’s, neighboring Sheriff’s Offices, AMR, and fire gather for the flag football tournament and the bragging rights of winning the trophy. Since this the proceeds benefit Placer County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, we are there as field referees, sideline judges, score keepers, and snack bar providers for the kids and for ice packs for those who still think they are twenty-something.
National Police
Memorial Week
First Responder Days
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National Police
Memorial Week
Annually the week of May 15th is designated as National Police Officers’ Memorial Week. The wee prior to that is California Police Officers’ Memorial Week. These are weeks to remember, honor and pay tribute to law enforcement personnel who have lost their live in the line of duty during the previous year. At the California memorial, chaplains join Placer agencies as we stand at attention on the Capitol Mall to respect and honor the families of those brave men and women as they pass by on their way to the main event During the main event we stand in the crowd, present in our show of support for the peers of these fallen heroes.
At the National Memorial event in Washington D.C. our chaplains will facilitate critical incident debriefing sessions, be available as support staff for families dealing with fresh emotions, provide support for peers, lead workshops, and more. This is always an amazing and humbling experience for chaplain participants.
Community
Memorial Events
Community
Memorial Events
In Placer County, Veterans’ Day, Pearl Harbor Day, 9/11, Wreaths Across America, are dutifully and proudly celebrated to honor those who stood for and gave all for our freedom. Placer Chaplains are honored to be included in the various ceremonies and honor events acknowledging the proud history of our armed forces and their service members. From brief comments to invocations and benedictions; we are privileged to lead community members in the remembrance of those heroic men and women.
Ride With Pride
Ride With Pride
Every summer the Placer Sheriff’s Mounted Equestrian Unit hosts a horse camp for kids. Grade school boys and girls are selected from applications submitted by the families. The kids get hands on instruction about horse anatomy, grooming tools and techniques, saddles and riding style, and they have an opportunity to take a lap around the yard on one of the horses. There are games, crowd control demonstrations, and a K-9 and helicopter are thrown in on a couple of days. Chaplains are assigned to each team of young people to assist with moving from one station to another, potty breaks, snacks, and the occasional behavior monitoring. It’s a great time with community kids, the deputies (and CHP mounted officers) and the horses.
Day with
a Deputy
First Responder Days
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Day with
a Deputy
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has a day each year when they reach out to build rapport with the Placer community in a fun day filled with demonstrations, games, and lunch. Falcon 30 (helicopter) drops in, the K-9s apprehend bad guys, the drone locates and drops an emergency package to a stranded swimmer, the BearCat (armored vehicle) rolls in, and the EOD team (bomb squad) blows up a suspicious package. In all of this there is face-painting, a photo op, maybe a game wheel to spin, and chaplains are serving popcorn and sno-cones. It’s a great day interfacing with deputies and the community also making the public aware of our partnership with Sheriff’s Office.
Day with
a Deputy
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has a day each year when they reach out to build rapport with the Placer community in a fun day filled with demonstrations, games, and lunch. Falcon 30 (helicopter) drops in, the K-9s apprehend bad guys, the drone locates and drops an emergency package to a stranded swimmer, the BearCat (armored vehicle) rolls in, and the EOD team (bomb squad) blows up a suspicious package. In all of this there is face-painting, a photo op, maybe a game wheel to spin, and chaplains are serving popcorn and sno-cones. It’s a great day interfacing with deputies and the community also making the public aware of our partnership with Sheriff’s Office.
DUI Checkpoints
DUI Checkpoints
In 2023, well over 1060 Californians died in alcohol related car accidents. Nationally there is an alcohol related traffic fatality every 39 minutes. In California, last year there were nearly 123,000 DUI arrests made, 455 of those were drivers under the age of 18. Those figures are over four times (4X) the number of arrests in any other state in the U.S. If it wasn’t for those arrests, the number of fatalities in the State would be even more tragically staggering. DUI checkpoints bring community awareness to this devastating problem and let the public know that in Placer County, as in all of California, our law enforcement agencies take this element of public safety very seriously. It is an honor for our chaplains to participate in these life-saving events by interfacing with the community and providing logistical support to officers and deputies.
Law Enforcement Appreciation Events
Law Enforcement Appreciation Events
A number of the local churches and service organizations in Placer County will do annual first responder/law enforcement appreciation days. We are always pleased to be able to participate in those events. We consider it a great opportunity to support our first response personnel, expressing our appreciation, as well as informing the public of our first response services as utilized by law and fire personnel. One of the delightful and fun events is the veteran and first responder appreciation event organized and sponsored by the service club of the E.V. Cain Middle School in Auburn. Guests are greeted by the band, entertained by the choir, and honored by student speeches over lunch. Each first response agency is presented some token of their appreciation. We get a box of stuffed animals to distribute to children grieving a loss.