Who We Are & What We Do
Trauma First Responders to First Responders and the Community
Chaplains Transform Others By the Power of Hope
Credible | Essential | Confidential
Who We Are
The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS) originally began in 1977 to provide pastoral care to employees of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. In 1993, we changed our name and grew by leaps and bounds and are still growing more each year.
We currently serve 17 law enforcement agencies, their families and first responders on Federal, State and local levels.
The Primary Objectives of the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS) are 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. LECS provides “constitutional” Chaplains and therefore, our services are not classified as religious.
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
- 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
Our services are provided through a 24-Hour Confidential Helpline (916)857-1801 – 7 days per week – 365 days per year.
What We Do
Law Enforcement Commanders, community leaders, administrators, and corporate executives trust the integrity of LECS to consistently provide the highest level of service to their departments, businesses, and the community.
The Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento (LECS) provides two types of Chaplains.
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
- Connecting families to faith-based organizations – when requested
Law Enforcement Chaplains (Gray shirts/Black vests) are ordained, licensed or commissioned and trauma-response trained the same as Community Chaplains. They not only respond to scenes, but are available to serve sworn and non-sworn department personnel, First Responders, and their families. Our trauma response and care services for first responders are kept confidential. These 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
How Chaplains Are Trained
Each Volunteer Chaplain is required to complete extensive training:
- Trauma Response & Care (24 hours)
- 150-Hour Academy & Field Training
- On-going and Monthly Training
- California Sexual Harassment Training
- California Mandated Reporter Training
- Workplace Violence Training
- COVID-19 Safety Education Training
Continuing Education in critical incident stress management, traumatology, school crisis and mass disaster response training is also required. More detailed information can be found throughout our website.
Affiliated Collaborations include, but are not limited to:
- ICISF (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation)
- ICPC (International Conference of Police Chaplains)
- COPS (Concerns for Police Survivors)
- C-POST (Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training)
- MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
- AAC (Arrive Alive California, Inc.)
- CPOMF (California Peace Officers Memorial Foundation)
- AMA (American Heart Association)
- U.S. Department of Justice
- TTAC (Training and Technical Assistance Centers, Victim Assistance Instructor)
- POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training, Instructor)
- CalTrans (California Department of Transportation)
- CSTI (California Specialized Training Institute, Trainer)
- SRT (Spiritual–Care Response Team Member)
- Domestic Violence Coordinating Council
- CDRT (Child Death Review Team)
- C2BU (Courage to be You)
- Every 15 Minutes & Real DUI Court Programs
- California Chaplain Corps (CCC) https://californiachaplaincorps.com/
