Quietly helping

When we’re in trouble, the police keep us safe, but when the police are in trouble, who keeps them safe?

Often, the police chaplain.

Most law enforcement communities have chaplains who serve as department pastors. They quietly help officers with job-related stress, personal problems and family issues, but unlike military chaplains, they go relatively unnoticed.

Randy Clark has been the Coeur d’Alene Police Department’s chaplain for three years. Prior to that, he was the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department chaplain for 10 years. His basic job description, he said, is “to look out for the welfare of the police officer.”

Although he has an office at the police station, he does much of his work riding with police officers. Police officers, he said, are much more willing to open up in their car than his office. Such a relationship means Clark is often an officer’s primary pastor.

“Since we work together, since we ride together, since we have a common bond together, since we work on situations together, we get way more comfortable with (each other)” than do most churchgoers and ministers, he said.

In addition to serving as pastor to the officers, Clark works closely with the community. He has put together pamphlets on suicide and works closely with families affected by crisis. He remembers visiting one family with two young children long after their father had committed suicide.

“I took an officer with me, and the officer was astounded. He said, ‘This happened 10 months ago, and you’re still dealing with this family?’ I said ‘Yeah, that’s what I do.’ “

To help officers, Clark gives away books, including some for veterans and a special theme Bible, “God’s Word for Peace Officers.” He also relies on volunteers.

“You can’t drag your soapbox around and think you’re the almighty and you’re going to help everybody… I may not be able to connect with someone, but you may.”

Dan Lynch has a slightly different job description. Primarily a pastor at Real Life Ministries, Lynch has also been the on-call chaplain for the Post Falls Police Department for about 10 years.

“I’m not in the same situation as the other fellows that do (this) full time,” he said. “I respect them highly, I’ve been there and done that, and I know what a difficult chore it is.” Lynch has also served as chaplain with the Idaho State Police and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department.

While Clark can approach officers he can see are having a tough time, the on-call Lynch relies on tips from other police officers.

“Most of my leads come when somebody’s in trouble. I usually get it from another officer who will say will you go talk to so and so, he may need some help.”

While Lynch is not as active a chaplain as Clark, they do share some duties, such as death notification and family counseling. They each take active roles during emergencies, and have seen officers lost in the line of duty. In Bonner County, Clark provided support for the whole department when a member of a neighboring force was killed.

“A number of the officers were going to quit, and the sheriff himself felt as though he totally dropped the ball…,” he said. “It took a lot of counseling… I was able to help the department from losing a number of people right off the bat, including the sheriff.”

Lynch recalls arriving at the scene of a fierce shootout between the police and a criminal.

“They had Maced him and that didn’t seem to bother him at all. For some crazy, unknown reason, I don’t really know why, I hollered at him, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, get down on your knees and submit!’ And he did! It hasn’t worked since. … It was just kind of a God thing!”

Both chaplains work hard to earn the trust of the officers. As a chaplain, Clark said, “Your yes has to be yes and your no has to be no. It’s a biblical principle, and (officers) have to know that you’re absolutely confidential… When someone comes to me and says I need to speak with you, (then) it’s absolutely confidential. It goes nowhere except straight up as prayer to the almighty.”

It’s a tough job, but there are a few places chaplains can turn when in need of some help themselves. Lynch said he can’t imagine life without his wife of 49 years, and cites Romans 8:28 as an important verse for his line of work. “All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Clark said chaplains try to maintain a low profile, in order to keep the spotlight on the officers. The men and women of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, he said, are the finest officers he’s ever worked with. “People need to recognize that these people are heroes. They do this every day, for you. For me. To protect the public. That, in my estimation, is a hero.”