The International Conference of Police Chaplain’s states that: “No one is confronted with more situations that demoralize and create emotional, mental and spiritual burdens than today’s law enforcement officer. These burdens also affect the officer’s family and other members of his or her department. Law enforcement agencies need the specialized guidance, counseling, and assistance for their officers, families, and communities.”
“A law enforcement chaplain is a clergyperson with special interest and training for providing pastoral care in the high powered and dangerous world of law enforcement. This pastoral care is offered to all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, creed, or religion.”
The Mentor Police Department has initiated a volunteer police chaplaincy program within the department. The program was requested by a member of the department who expressed a need for an outlet for employees and their families when faced with stressful or other difficult situations in the professional or personal lives. Research was done on police chaplains and area departments with successful programs were contacted for their input. Policy was drafted and interest sought from area clergy members. Five subjects were selected to represent the department on this voluntary basis. These men were sworn in at a ceremony conducted on February 17, 2008. Their oath was administered by Mentor Municipal Court Judge John Trebets.
Our Current Mentor Police Chaplains are:
Rev. Joel Algeri – affiliated with Trinity Baptist Church
Rev. Stoney Drain – Painesville Baptist Church
Rev. Donald Knipp – Christian Life Church
Rev. Brian Landrum – Mentor Baptist Church
Father Tim Plavac – St. Bede’s Catholic Church
These chaplains strive to establish a relationship with employees through ride-alongs and visits to various divisions of the department; they are members of the department and carry departmental identification and chaplain badges. They are not law enforcement officers, however, and have no arrest powers. Any counseling or other services offered to employees are voluntary and strictly confidential. We are looking forward to the benefits that this program will provide to the Mentor Police Department.
June 13, 2011 – Periodically, a member of the Mentor Police Department Chaplain Program will submit a short article discussing the program and the benefits of it. The following was submitted by Chaplain Donald Knipp.
The Mentor Police Department Police Chaplain Program
There are very few occupations that are more demanding and stressful than that of a police officer. Their work days are long, laborious, and often lonely. They are constantly being evaluated by their superiors and scrutinized by the public. The very fact that they are called to a scene invariably means something negative has or is happening.
Mentor police officers care about the needs of the community they serve. They genuinely enjoy interacting with the public, but they must remain emotionally detached to whatever degree necessary for them to do their job without endangering themselves or others. The stressful situations they walk into demand a calm and controlled response. As servants of the community, they must remain friendly and engaging while being constantly aware of the possibility of impending danger.
The duties of a police officer require them to go from casual observation, to adrenaline rushing activity, back to mundane clerical reporting throughout a work shift. Diplomacy, energy, patience, and a good sense of humor are as important to a successful day of work as a smooth operating computer and a fast squad car.
As a pastor with 20 years of public service to the spiritual needs of this community, I have been involved in a variety of stressful situations. My role as a police chaplain has allowed me to closely observe the professional conduct of the men and women in blue who serve the Mentor community and I “tip my hat” to them.
