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"A natural death is understandable, even though
COMFORT it's a child." Barrett said. "But a violent death —
and that can vary from suicide to homicide — when
the violent death happens at the hands of another. it
-_ _-- makes no sense. People don't choose to be mur-
T CONTINUED FROM sc dered."
No}w,, Barrett is a permanent deacon
h atl Holy Spirit
hrough in the first moments after tragedy strikes.
paristl in �L. Paul, a jL. Yau� po�lce chaplain an� Llle
That's the main reason volunteer police chaplain president of the St. Paul chapter of Parents of Mur-
units, which have proved valuable in large urban dered Children. His wife. Beverly, is the coordinator
areas, are beginning to spread to suburban commu- of volunteers at Holy Spirit.
nities across the United States. Heide, a volunteer chaplain in Eagan, has seen
At one time, only police departments in the that people's initial contacts following a tragedy can
biggest cities had chaplaincy units. But now subur- sometimes be particularly harsh. Ile remembers
1,an clergy are also volunteering for the harsh work when a 6-year-old boy was run over by a school bus
of death notification, counseling victims of violent and Heide was called as the second chaplain on the
crime and helping people wade through the intense scene.
moments after a crime scene begins to unfold. "The first goal of a chaplain," Heide said. `'is to
Contrast Grischkowsky's experience with that of minister to the police officers. I saw officers as
Dick and Beverly Barrett, whose son was murdered being truly human that day. Many of them were
in 1984. really upset. We were all overwhelmed. I had all I
When the police informed the Barretts their son could do to keep from crying. I mean, I've got a 5-
Dennis had been assaulted, the couple went to St. year-old."
Paul-Ramsey Medical Center to await word, Dick Volunteering as a police chaplain puts clergy in
Barrett recalled in a recent interview. There was r_o the center of many suburban storms. They arrive
chaplain, no sensitive police officer and no help moments after terrible accidents, suicides and mur-
rom their church. ders. In their scheduled "ride-alongs," they see
.)gg ggt. was from the emergency room domestic abuse. troubled youths and people of all
staff, Ile said ` at-was the last place I expected ages who h'a�e"�losope `
.:
to find ministry. Finally they called in a chaplain, Heide remembers one accident in which a 15-
and he let us spend some time with our son after he year-old boy was hit by a car while trying to cross
died — just to be with him." a wide suburban street.
But the initial lack of help ended up driving the `'I worked with two 15-year-old girls who were
Barretts closer to their church. Eventuallv Dick there — they saw it happen," Heide said. "Then the
Barrett decided to study to become a permanent family came and I worked with them. And, of
deacon in the Catholic Church, a position that, he course, the police officers. And then they brought in
believed, would allow him to help other people deal- the kid who was driving the car that hit'him."
ing with grief and hurt. Eagan Police Chief Pat Geagan, a strong support-