Chaplains

Anderson Police Department Chaplains program was initiated in 1995

Their Mission Statement is: To provide God's "ministry of presence" and skilled support to the community, victims and to those who protect and serve us.

The Role of the Chaplains:	They Respond to:
Crisis Counseling	Suicides
Victim Support	Death Situations
Debriefing and Diffusing	Fatal Car
Liason to the Religious Community	Community Emergencies
Officer Support	Victim Advocate Support
Public Ceremonies
Ride Outs with Officers
Victim Support

The Anderson Police Department Chaplains serve multiple purposes and perform in numerous roles in the department. They are called on to make death notifications and meet needs that exist when there is a death in a family or when there is a tragedy in the commuity. They also respond to suicides, vehicle accidents, death situations, commuinity crises, and support victim advocates. Chaplains spend time riding with officers during their shifts. They take the time to see first hand what Officers deal with day in and day out. Upon request they conduct defusings and debriefings with officers and peple in the community that have been involved in a critical incident.

The chaplains call officers to become their best and not be satisfied with who they are now. They help offiers understand that they all need to grow and become better police officers, husbands, wives . . .people. The police department and the "City of Anderson" are better places because of the chaplains. Some refer to officers as the "thin blue line" a wall that stands between right ans wrong, victims and perpetrators, predators and their prey, anarchy and order. If police officers are that wall, then the chaplains are the battlements that support that wall and help make it strong.

Chaplains can be contacted at: 623-4561 or 623-3602