[email protected] 24-Hour Confidential Helpline: 916 857 1801
24-Hour Confidential Helpline: 916 857 1801 [email protected]

Chaplain Programs

Within the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS), there are two types of Chaplains – Community Chaplains and Law Enforcement Chaplains.

Chaplains respond to emergency scenes with trauma and crisis intervention.

Community Chaplains

(Burgundy shirts) are called out by first responders to attend to family members, neighbors, by-standers, classmates, and co-workers when they have been victimized, suffered serious injury, or have been traumatized by the death of a loved one.  They provide the following services:

  • Crisis intervention at emergency scenes
  • Critical incident stress management
  • Search and rescue assistance in the field
  • Evacuation scene support
  • School crisis intervention
  • Family Assistance Center Management
  • Town Hall meeting coordination following a tragedy and/or disaster
  • Follow-up services to families
  • Referrals to community-based resources and organizations
  • Funeral planning and officiating
  • Spiritual guidance and prayer support – when requested
  • Connecting families to faith-based organizations – when requested

Law Enforcement Chaplains (Gray shirts/Black vests) must be ordained, licensed, or commissioned and be in good standing with their ecclesiastical leader at their house of worship. The Law Enforcement Chaplain (pastor, minister, priest, rabbi, imam) is a leader within their house of worship and supports the house of worship programs, doctrinal distinctions, and theological perspectives. A Law Enforcement Chaplain is an active member that continues to grow spiritually and be accountable to his/her denomination or congregation.

Community Chaplains (burgundy shirts) respond to crime and accident scenes, hospitals, homes, businesses, churches, government agencies. They go wherever they are needed 24/7/365.

Law Enforcement Chaplains are also trained as trauma responders to First Responders, their families, as well as the community. Law Enforcement Chaplains maintain confidentiality when working with First Responders. These LE Chaplains also provide:

  • Critical incident stress management
  • Post-traumatic event debriefs and counseling
  • Pre-marital counseling
  • Wedding planning and officiating
  • Home and hospital visitation
  • Graduation/promotion ceremony assistance
  • Funeral planning and officiating
  • Line-of-Duty death funeral planning and officiating
  • Spiritual guidance and prayer support – when requested

Law Enforcement Chaplains respond to call outs the same as Community Chaplains; however, additional duties include, regular visits to area stationhouses and monthly ride-along’s. This helps the LE Chaplain get to know the first responders they work with, and build rapport, so the first responders will feel comfortable about calling them during a crisis.

Law Enforcement Chaplains wear gray shirts and black vests.

LECS currently serves multiple law enforcement agencies, their families and First Responders on Federal, State and local levels.

The Primary Objectives of the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS) is to support First Responders and their families in professional and personal crisis, serve the community in times of crisis and tragedies, and be a proactive and reactive resource for all. The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS) provides “constitutional” Chaplains, not congregational clergy. This means:

  • They meet the Constitutional Requirement from the Supreme Court ruling (Lemon vs. Kurtzman, 1971).
  • They are not entangled with Government and the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento is apolitical. The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento serves everyone and anyone, imparting a calming presence by offering God’s Hope, Peace, and Love.
  • Our Chaplains are religiously neutral, therefore, the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento serves all faiths and those with no faith.
  • They have a “secular” purpose – the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento Chaplains are trauma informed responders for victims who have experienced loss, trauma, or tragedy.

Here are a few additional items to consider.

Both Community Chaplains and Law Enforcement Chaplains are able to set their own schedule because we serve 24/7/365

All Chaplains

  • Provide in-person death notifications for the county coroner’s office and follow-up care
  • Provide a secular purpose by attending to the post-trauma needs on scenes
  • Go anywhere they are needed – crime scenes, hospitals, homes, businesses, government facilities, and more
  • Serve crime victims and those distressed by traumatic events, alongside sworn and non-sworn law enforcement personnel during an actual crisis
  • Go anytime they are called – 24/7/365
  • Offer practical guidance and compassionate resources
  • Serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, age, gender or sexual preference
  • Provide spiritual guidance and prayer support – when requested
  • Impart a calming presence and bring HOPE

Mutual Aid & Special

The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS) is known as the “national model chaplaincy” and due to our reputation, we are often requested to respond to mutual aid deployments throughout the State of California, and even sometimes, the United States.  We have responded to Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Hotel shooting, and the Camp Fire to name a few. We also serve each year at the California State Fair in the “lost kids” unit.

Chaplain Support Team

Within the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS) we have some Chaplains who have semi-retired but want to remain involved with LECS.  These Chaplains serve on our “Support Team” and are an integral part of our success.

Chaplain Wellness Team

Our Wellness Team constantly checks in with our deployed Chaplains, Chaplains on Leave-of-Absence, and our newest Chaplains that have recently graduated from our LECS Academy.

CLICK HERE for more information about how Chaplains are trained.