Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Chief Pat Geagan on Police Chaplains - "The officers are always happy to see a "The kinds of things I have seen are much more
involvement," Mens said. "I've seen chaplains
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1 like a suicide—and the next call is to a and friends of crime victims. I think there was
some preliminary response work that was death
Chaplain. " notification and then they were out of there. But
PAT GEAGAN now there is a more comprehensive care for the
EAGAN POLICE CHIEF people — to hang around long enough to see they
are connected to some agency or person who will
er of chaplaincy programs, says the seven chaplains help them."Police chaplains vary widely across the U.S.,"
who work with local police have gained the officersMens said. "There are chaplains who are also police-
respect. men; they carry weapons and they are also chap-
"The chaplains work as if they did not represent a tains. It may be moving that way across the coun-
denomination." Geagan said. "They go with us on try. So far, we can find volunteer chaplains who can
death notifications, and in that case. one of the first carry the shift. But it's hard to find volunteers and
things they do is ask if they have any church affilia- getting harder.
tions. Some chaplains will carry through and do "The money is the problem — it's very difficult to
funerals. One lady was pregnant when her relative fund, and the religious community has just not seen
died. A chaplain did some grief counseling at the the need. So, it would have to be funded by the
scene and ended up baptizing the baby for her." police departments."
Geagan said the chaplains are often on hand at The Rev. Deborah Brown, supply priest for the
some of the worst, most graphic scenes and ,yet are Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota and a volunteer
committed to responding. chaplain for the Eagan police department, said part
"The officers are always happy to see a chaplain of her ministry to victims and survivors is to main-
on the scene." Geagan said. "'We get a call — like a tain some contact.
suicide — and the next call is to a chaplain. They "The officers put their lives on the line many
carry pagers and thev're on call 24 hours, seven times," Brown said. "But I have not had any situa-
days a week." tions that were violent. We do ride with the officers
That seems the norm for police chaplaincy work, at least once during the week we're on call. It really
according to several law enforcement officials and is a ministry of presence and a ministry of listening.
chaplains. But now the field is expanding both in the And it requires a calm presence and a listening
numbers of people involved and in the services ren- ear."
dered.
Larry Mens, 49, the criminal justice services man-
ager for educational training programs in Connecti- Clark Morphewr, who covers religion, can be
cut and a former employee of the St. Paul Council reached at cmorphew@pioneerpress.com. or(651)
of Churches, says the entire chaplaincy field is 228-5586.
changing rapidly.