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Chico Police Chaplains
The Chico Police Chaplaincy is a volunteer unit created to provide non-denominational physical, mental and spiritual support to the City of Chico Police Department personnel and victims of crimes and tragedies in the greater Chico, California, area.
The Chico Police Chaplains Association assists the City of Chico Police Department in training of chaplains in police procedures, safety, first aid, radio communications and other protocols as required for the performance of the duties of the Chico Police Chaplains. The Chico Police Chaplains provide chaplaincy services as directed by the City of Chico Police Department.
The Chico Police Chaplaincy was formed during a training period from 1997 to 1999 in response to a request by the Chief of Police. The Chico Police Chaplains Association is a volunteer corps of local religious workers (ordained or licensed pastors, priests, etc.) who volunteer their time and effort at the direction of the Chico Police Department and its Chaplaincy program.
- Purpose
- Duties
- Training
Purpose
The purposes of the Chico Police Chaplains Association can be seen in two categories.
- The first role of the Chico Police Chaplains Association is to be a ministry of care, support and presence to the employees and families of the Chico Police Department. In this capacity, chaplains regularly ride along with officers while on duty, visit dispatchers at work, visit sick and injured employees at the hospital or their homes, perform wedding and funeral services for police department employee families, and any other appropriate services which may be called for. In addition, chaplains may be asked to provide counsel for departmental employees for a variety of reasons. Chaplains also provide comfort services to officers during extraordinary duty situations, such as Halloween or St. Patrick’s Day patrol (two major law enforcement events in Chico), where the Chico Police Chaplains Association has served hot food and beverages to officers on duty.
- The second role of the chaplaincy is to the public, as specialized members of the Chico Police Department. Victims or relatives of the victims of violent crime, accidents, or other tragedies may require chaplains’ assistance. Chaplains make death notifications to relatives of deceased persons when dispatched by the Chico Police Department.
