WHAT DOES A PUBLIC SAFETY CHAPLAIN DO?

Sioux Empire Chaplains are experienced professionals who have completed specialized training which provide them with the skills necessary to effectively serve within the public safety community and in critical incidents. While they represent a wide variety of religious beliefs and traditions, the Chaplains support employees, their family members and the departments by providing general pastoral care and support. 

 

Our Chaplains proactively serve through personal interaction with employees at all levels within the first responder agencies through office visits, phone calls, ride-alongs, squad meetings, station visits or other chaplain-initiated activities. 

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 The duties of a Public Safety Chaplain may include, but are not limited to:

• Riding along with officers and dispatchers, on on various shifts.
   

• Accompanying first responders to assist with notification to family of a death or serious injury of a family member.
   

• Assisting first responders in any kind of crisis situation where the presence of a trained chaplain might help. Emergency call outs are handled on a 24 hour / 7 day a week basis.
   

• Providing practical assistance to victims, to include providing bereavement counseling.
   

• Participating in Sioux Empire Chaplain Corps planned events to include monthly meetings/trainings, serving/volunteering during first responder appreciation events and attending other events in support of public safety departments.
   

• Counseling first responders and their families in response to stress or family crisis problems. Any such assistance will be privileged and confidential between the responder and chaplain involved.
   

• Visiting responders and family members who are hospitalized or sick at home. 
   

• Helping to organize response to ceremonies for responders killed in the line of duty; attending funerals of slain responders from other communities within a 300-mile radius
   

• Offering prayers at special occasions such as recruit graduations, award ceremonies, retirements and dedications of buildings, etc.
   

• Assisting in the provision of planned, scheduled training to first responder personnel. Training may include orientation as a new employee, academy training, roll call training, spouse orientation, etc.
   

• Keeping all conversations strictly confidential (unless instructed otherwise).