NCJ Number
185832
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 69 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 23-25
Date Published
November 2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
South Carolina has established a statewide law enforcement chaplaincy and an employee assistance program with a professional staff as a result of the psychological impacts that police officers experienced in relation to a 1997 child abduction case later discovered to be the murder of two young children by their mother.
Abstract
Police personnel from multiple agencies were involved in investigating the crime, searching for the children, and recovering their bodies. The psychological impacts of this critical incident led to the formation of a study group, which recommended the establishment of the chaplaincy. The chaplaincy began as a volunteer program at the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). A victim assistance grant enabled the chaplaincy to hire two ordained clergy and one clinical social worker. The program initially focused on sworn staff members and expanded it to assist both civilians and sworn personnel from SLED; Department of Public Safety; Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole; and Department of Natural Resources. Each agency realized that it did not have an employee assistance program and interest evolved in that direction. The four agencies and the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for South Carolina signed a memorandum of understanding on January 21, 2000, to create the South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program. The program and its chaplain staff provide support and assistance to member agency personnel, but it does not spread a religious message or personal agenda. Requests for support must rest on secular reasons. Multiagency operations make the most efficient use of existing resources. The success of the joint program depends on staff members who understand the culture of the law enforcement organizations and the personnel they serve. Photographs and reference notes