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Chaplains and Critical Incidents

Chaplain Steven Davis, Ph.D.

A Chaplains program is a resource provided by the Agency to make a pool of people available who are

familiar with the work of law enforcement and the tensions faced by personnel. And, who also have an

adequate background check and security clearance that personnel can talk freely without violating the

responsibility of confidentiality. Both the State and Federal government recognize the common law

privilege in a penitent/clergy relationship.

Whats that mean? Hows a Chaplain different than going to a mental health counselor or other

psychiatrist? Conversations with a counselor are confidential. Those in the mental health field are

REQUIRED to take and keep notes on their sessions with clients. Conversations with Chaplains are

strictly privileged, with the privilege being on the part of the individual speaking with the Chaplain.

The Chaplain does NOT make notes, and cannot divulge the contents of conversations with those who

come to him/her. That is state law.

The agency Chaplain is someone who personnel can come to on a privileged basis, particularly during the

time frame of critical incidents. Nationwide, more and more agencies are making Chaplains part of the

initial response team, evidence gathering teams and post critical incident teams. The role of the Chaplain

on these teams is to provide a ministry of presence; a shoulder of support for employees, and a link to a

world away from the critical incident.

The Chaplains program provides the spiritual support for employees of the agency. With law

enforcement personnel as a whole being a group of highly motivated strong minded people, spiritualsupport becomes necessary. Privileged communication and confidentiality is absolute.

For personnel to be able to go to a Chaplain and have no fear of being turned in, is something that no one

but a Chaplain can offer. Again, the privilege is to the individual, not to the chaplain. Personnel are

granted the privilege of being able to speak openly in total confidence.

One fact about Critical Incident Response is that no matter how experienced an officer is, he or she never

knows when or how an incident might be too much. Its impossible to know which piece of evidence

will get to any of an agencys personnel. An officer can have years of experience and get better and

better at it, then a particular incident will get to him or her, and a breaking point is reached. Thats a

reason for the presence and availability of the Chaplain. What is the goal of a chaplain at routine ERT callout? To be there for the team, get them water, serve them, be a stabilizing presence, and maybe give

each member a card with the Chaplain's phone number on it - and a "give me a call in a few days."

Another time that the presence of a Chaplain is necessary is after a line of duty weapons discharge.

Agencies spend thousands of dollars and more thousands of rounds of ammunition training their people

how to shoot efficiently and accurately and how to kill. They provide weeks of very expensive firearms

training, hoping it will never have to be used. But few agencies spend even an hour on what the officers

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will go through if they DO have to shoot in the line of duty. Weapons handling is more than just training

in how paper is perforated from 50 yards away. After a line-of-duty weapons discharge, very few

personnel are ready to cope internally with having their weapon taken away, having the news in the paper,

the neighbors knowing they are weaponless until the internal investigation is completed. During this time,

the Chaplain is a service of the Agency not only to the officer, but also to his or her spouse and family - to

help maintain emotional and spiritual equilibrium.

Chaplains arent reverends playing policemen. They arent here spreading their religion. They arent a

replacement of EAP counselors or psychiatrists. And, they are not on payroll, and do not charge the

Agency for any of their services. They offer their training (several of our CCSO Chaplains have 6 or more

years of college and grad school, plus other trainings and certifications), their time, their expertise and

their ears - day or night, just in case our personnel or their families have a need.