After much conversation with Officer Condy while he was working at the church, I finally agreed to go on my first ride along on April 16, 2016. I got into the police car very unsure of what the night would hold and not expecting it to ever lead to anything else. After a few more ride alongs I started enjoying it more. I figured I would ride with all of the police officers that work at the church and that would probably be it.
Then one night my thoughts about it completely changed. I was riding with Officer McMillan and Sgt. Hancock asked me to help with a death notification. Officer McMillan had to go to the home of a female around my age and he had to deliver the news that her mother died. I was able to offer a little bit of pastoral care in the moment as she received this difficult news. When we got back into the patrol car, Officer McMillan took some time to process losing someone very close to him. Around 3:00 in the morning we headed to IHOP to meet several of the other officers for their late night snack. As I sat at the table, several of the officers began asking questions about the church and sharing their experiences and reasons that they have not attended church. I was very surprised by their openness and they were very receptive of what I had to say. When I headed home around 5:00am, I went to the seawall for a moment and thought about what all had just taken place. I said to God, “I’m not sure what the full plan is, but I’m in.” Later that day I called Rev. Johnson, the head chaplain, and asked him what I needed to do to be more involved. After that I went through the Citizen’s Police Academy and some training with the International Conference of Police Chaplains. On January 20, 2017 I was officially sworn into the department as a Chaplain.
In my time as a Chaplain, many wonderful things have happened. I’ve seen God at work in many areas. The main things that I get called out for are death notifications and scenes where someone died. That is such a small portion of what actually goes on though. I have many opportunities to share devotions and pray at roll call before they go on duty. I’ve continued to answer questions about the church and my faith in the most random of places. I spend a lot of time in patrol cars talking with officers about what is going on in their lives and how things are going on the job. I’m able to be a listening ear if they were on a particularly difficult scene and saw things that stuck with them or if they have something going on in their personal lives. I enjoy providing meals and snacks for the officers to remind them that people care and to help make the really busy nights a little bit easier.
There are numerous stories that could be shared, but here are a few to illustrate why the role of the chaplain is so important. One night I responded to a scene where a man died by suicide. When I arrived I was introduced to the girlfriend of the deceased. As I sat with her and we talked, she asked numerous questions about God and specifically about how God felt about the suicide. I was able to help her talk through those big questions and find some comfort in her distress. Another night I was riding with Officer Alawar and he was asked to respond to a call where a woman felt her and her children were in danger while her husband was driving their vehicle. They pulled the vehicle over and got the husband out of the car. I was able to get in the vehicle with the wife and the children who were so afraid. Then as the officers talked with the woman, I remained with the children and tried to ease their minds a little. Another night I was at the church working late and got phone calls about two different death scenes. I headed to the scene that called me first and then got a text message from the other scene that it was someone from the church. I learned that it was a church member's husband that had died. I was able to arrive at the home just before they removed the body. Because the officers are used to calling me out to scenes like that, I was able to support a church member at a time when they would not have called a Pastor to be with them.
Outside of the benefits for the community and the department, being a chaplain has provided great opportunities to build bridges between the congregation and the officers. We’ve held a few breakfasts in the student center for the night watch officers because none of the other events are at times that fit with their schedule. The college students join me at 4:00am to start preparing food for them! We’ve also assembled snack bags to give to the officers on the busy weekends like Mardi Gras and Lonestar Rally. The officers hosted a portion of our progressive dinner at the station one Christmas and know the students’ names and stories. One year they even took up a collection to ensure that one of our boys would have a great Christmas. My favorite night so far was one where a panel of officers spent time answering questions that the students had surrounding their job and race relations. The students had an opportunity to learn more about why the officers do what they do and that they are people like them. The night ended with the students praying over the officers before they went out on patrol for the night.
Being a Chaplain for the Galveston Police Department has been the biggest unexpected joy and adventure. I never would have imagined that God would use me in this way. Being at the department full time will give me opportunities to know and support the officers more fully. It would also allow for the development of programs for the officers such as things to help them strengthen their marriages and families. It would also give time to better connect the officers with the resources available in Galveston so that they are better equipped to help the people on their scenes. Outside of those things I will be so thrilled to continue being a part of the movement of the Spirit and see what God has in store.
