Volunteer as a Police Chaplain

The Broomfield Police Department has established a formal police chaplain program to be staffed by recognized clergy from community churches. This program is designed to be a support tool for Department personnel (both sworn and non-sworn) during times when the employee recognizes these needs and seeks out chaplain support.

The department recognizes the need for supplying officers and staff with the means and support to deliver quality, professional policing to the community, and that in carrying out this goal, due to the very nature of the job, employees may occasionally encounter times in their professional or personal lives in which the need for non-judgmental spiritual support and advice is needed. This program helps fulfill that need.

Police Chaplain Expectations

Police chaplains should strive to achieve an understanding of the officers, staff, and "culture" of the Department through his/her volunteer time. This is accomplished through regular interaction and communication with members of the Department.

Police chaplains will be expected to attend, at a minimum, the following:

• Four hours a month on ride-alongs with officers or staff in any division within the Department.
• Attend police chaplain trainings offered either by the Department or other police chaplain programs.
• Police chaplains should understand that his/her service may be called upon at any hour of the day or night. These services may include any of the following:
  • Notification of death or serious injury: Police chaplains may assist a department staff member's designated clergy person in the notification of family members concerning the death or serious injury of a department staff member.
  • Funerals: Police chaplains may officiate, assist, or work in coordination with other members of the clergy, upon request, for funerals of members of the department or their immediate family members. Police chaplains, when possible, should attend funerals of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as a representative of the department.
  • Counseling: Upon request, police chaplains counsel department staff members. The content of this communication shall be confidential. If necessary, an individual seeking counseling with a police chaplain may be referred to other professional services, including the City and County of Broomfield's Employee Assistance Program.
  • Public ceremonies: Upon request, a police chaplain leads the invocation or benediction of department banquets and ceremonies.
  • Hospital visitation: Upon request, police chaplains visit department staff members who are hospitalized to offer support and encouragement to the employee and their family.

Police Chaplain Guidelines

• The Police Chaplain Program is designed to be a service to the officers and staff of the Department, and their families. It is not meant as a service offered to the community as a whole as well as inmates at the Broomfield Detention Center.
• The Victim Services Unit provides services for crime victims. Police chaplains will not take the role of victim advocate or offer other services to crime victims or others they may encounter in their role as a police chaplain. Police Chaplain Program and Victim Services Unit personnel are encouraged to work together in training and assisting each other to provide maximum services.
• Police chaplains treat all communications with department staff members in the strictest confidence.
  • Compromising a confidence will be considered a violation of department policy. A police chaplain who violates the confidentiality of any department staff member is subject to removal from the program.
  • An exception to this confidentiality rule is a situation where it is clear to a police chaplain that the department staff member is a danger to themselves or others, in which case they notify a police department supervisor immediately.
• Information gained by a police chaplain through their exposure to law enforcement must be held in the strictest confidence and not released to the general public or news media without expressed written permission by the Department.
• Upon request, police chaplains provide members of the Department with spiritual guidance without regard to race, color, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, disability, or rank.
• Police chaplains should ascertain if the individual has a specific religious preference, and/or a specific clergy person they wish to be notified. If they do, the police chaplain contacts the appropriate clergy person for the employee.
• Police chaplains are encouraged to develop and maintain relationships with all members of the Department.
• The program is religiously neutral, unless the person in need requests religious information or insight.
• The program is intended to be one of service, and not for denominational recruitment.
• Chaplains shall not engage in any of the following activities:
  • Consume alcohol while in an on-call capacity.
  • Use illegal drugs or participate in other illegal activities.
  • Identify themselves as sworn members of the department, police officers, or engage in any police activities which they do not have the lawful authority to perform.
  • Engage in any activity of a nature that could bring embarrassment or discredit to the Broomfield Police Department.
• Chaplains will not carry weapons to include firearms, while working in their volunteer capacity. Any chaplain who possesses a concealed weapons permit will not carry a concealed weapon during their official activities. Any chaplain observed carrying a weapon during the course of their duties will be subject to dismissal.

Department Responsibilities

• The Department provides department staff members access to the police chaplain when requested.
• The Department provides appropriate identification for the police chaplains.
• The Department encourages the police chaplains to experience all areas of police work within the Department and to interact with all department staff members performing the various functions in the Department.
• A Lead Chaplain shall be appointed to coordinate chaplain activities.
  • The Lead Chaplain shall serve as a liaison to the Chaplain Program Coordinator and assist in the development of chaplain training.
  • The Lead Chaplain will address issues of scheduling, staffing, and other matters associated with the Chaplain Program.
  • Service as a lead chaplain may be on a rotational basis.

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