This book was written by four experienced chaplains to present a theological foundation for law enforcement chaplaincy and to define the chaplain's role in law enforcement.
Law enforcement chaplaincy is a ministry that requires availability, visibility, adaptability, and credibility on the part of the chaplain. The chaplain must remember that the law enforcement chaplaincy is an extension of the parish ministry in the community. Confidentiality is probably the single most sensitive issue facing the chaplain. Crisis intervention is a major responsibility of the chaplain and requires that the chaplain communicate with the person in crisis, identify essential elements of the crisis situation, and help the individual determine what options are available to deal with the crisis. The chaplain's role is examined in relation to addicted police officers, counseling, death notification, disasters, domestic disputes, ethics, family members of police department personnel, hostage negotiation, officer deaths and funerals, postshooting trauma, and victim assistance. Appendixes provide further information on chaplain duties and training and include a chaplain's code of ethics and a model for starting a chaplaincy program.