About Us - Chaplains Certification Course Description -
Chaplains’ Division Leadership Directory

About Us

A Chaplain can be one of the most important members of the Sheriff’s Office.  Law enforcement officers face more issues that can demoralize and create emotional, mental, and spiritual burdens than any other profession.  In fact, most people agree that law enforcement is more emotionally challenging than physically dangerous.  While Sheriffs’ Offices provide their officers with the physical tools for the job such as weapons, vests, and communications equipment, today, more than ever, there is a need for spiritual guidance, counseling, and assistance for law enforcement professionals, their families, and the communities they serve.

Chaplains are trained to meet these emotional and spiritual needs.  Even though other clergy are trained in ministry, they are generally not attuned to the particular problems inherent with law enforcement.

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Chaplains’ Division was created to promote the availability of Chaplains to meet the spiritual and emotional needs of the sheriff, his/her employees, their families, and also members of the community. The sheriff’s chaplain’s primary focus is on the sheriff and his staff, providing services such as:

• spiritual counseling
• death notifications
• post-shooting counseling
• family relationship enhancement
• weddings
• memorial services
• post-traumatic stress counseling and professional referrals.
   

Any person being duly selected by the Sheriff of any county in the State of Georgia may become a probationary member of this Division and he or she may continue as a probationary member subject to the payment of prescribed dues.  He or she may reach full membership by obtaining religious endorsement and all required training.  The annual dues of all members are fifty dollars initially; thirty dollars each year thereafter.

Required training consists of attaining Chaplain’s Certification from the Georgia Police Officer’s Standards and Training Council.  In order to attain certification, you must be:

• authorized by the sheriff of your county to represent him/her
• regularly ordained member of the clergy of your own religious denomination for at least one year
• be endorsed by your own religious denomination
• be engaged in the active ministry as a principal vocation in life for minimum of two years
• possess good moral character
• have been found after examination by a licensed physician to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental conditions which might adversely effect your exercising the duties of police chaplain
• attend the 40 hour Chaplain’s Certification course which is offered annually
• complete 34 hours of field training by the sponsoring agency (see page 15 in the Application for Police Chaplain Certification)
• complete the Application for Police Chaplain Certification (You may access this form at www.gapost.org, click on Applications & Form, click on Application for Chaplain Certification.)
• Upon obtaining certification, chaplains are strongly encouraged to attend the 16-20 hours of in-service training offered annually to remain current on issues concerning chaplaincy.

Chaplains' Training Conferences

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Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council
40 Hour Law Enforcement Chaplains Certification Course Description

Law Enforcement Ethics: (2 hours) This class will familiarize the chaplain with his/her role in creating an ethical environment within a law enforcement agency.  Ethical dilemmas faced by police officers are explored.  The chaplain will understand his role as a trainer, teacher, and role model within the law enforcement agency.

Law Enforcement Family:  (2 hours) This class familiarizes the chaplain with the unique family of law enforcement.  This course will help the chaplain understand and deal with this different family.  Working with law enforcement is unlike working in other types of ministry.

Officer Injury and Death: (2 hours) This class familiarizes the chaplain with his/her role in instances where a peace officer dies or is seriously injured as a result of natural causes, illness, accident, suicide or in the line of duty.  The chaplain will be able to identify: (1) the role of a chaplain as a counselor where a peace officer dies or is seriously injured, (2) the circumstances under which an officer might be injured or killed, and (3) resources available to the survivors of the officer.

Family Violence and Domestic Violence: (4 hours) This class familiarizes the chaplain with Domestic Violence and effective response to situations involving persons in a crisis situation and domestic violence disputes.  The chaplain will identify: (1) the requirements of The Family Violence Act, (2) officer safety considerations when responding to domestic violence disputes, and (3) referral agencies which might be an appropriate mechanism for resolving family violence.

Counseling: (4 hours) This class familiarizes the chaplain with his/her role in counseling.  The chaplain will identify: (1) his role as a counselor, (2) identify the requirements of an effective counselor, (3) family counseling issues which are unique to peace officers and the law enforcement agencies, and (4) resources available to peace officers and their families.

First Aid and C.P.R.: (9 hours) The class familiarizes the chaplain with accepted treatment and stabilizing principles for competent performance in response to a medical emergency.  The chaplain will complete the American Red Cross Community Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Course and the Basic First Aid Course.

Liability and Confidentiality: (4 hours) The chaplain will be able to understand the concept of confidentiality as it relates to the law enforcement agency, courts, and the peace officer.  The chaplain will identify: (1) mechanisms for developing relationships, based on trust with the law enforcement agency, courts, and the individual peace officer, (2) confidentiality issues which might impact the law enforcement agency, (3) confidentiality issues which might impact the courts, and (4) confidentiality issues which might impact the individual peace officer.

Substance Abuse: (3 hours) The class familiarizes the chaplain with the factors that influence substance abuse by peace officers and the role of the chaplain in instances where a peace officer is determined to be a substance abuser.  The chaplain will also identify: (1) the types of substance abuse, (2) the consequences of substance abuse by peace officers, and (3) resources available to the law enforcement agency and the individual peace officer in the form of counseling and treatment.

Post Shooting Syndrome: (3 hours) The class familiarizes the chaplain with the role of a chaplain in instances where a peace officer has been involved in a deadly force incident.  The chaplain will identify: (1)  his role as a counselor, (2) the characteristics of post traumatic stress, and (3) the immediate and delayed relations experienced by peace officers to posttraumatic stress.

Death Notification: (2 hours) This class familiarizes the chaplain with proper procedure for completing a death notification in a compassionate and supportive manner.  The chaplain will identify: (1) his role as it relates to death notification, (2) the procedure for death notification for sworn law enforcement officer on duty, off duty, or natural death, (3) define the process for the funeral, and (4) follow-up procedure and benefits.

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Chaplains’ Division Leadership Directory
2007-2008
Georgia Sheriffs’ Association