Gracie Allen said, “Don’t put a period where God has placed a comma. …..God is still speaking.” It is not always easy to discern Gods voice in our hurried world. In our culture it is oft the want of many to nail down God (pun intended) and make God into an image that is socially and politically acceptable. “God said it (in the Bible), I believe it, that settles it!”

But if God is still speaking, if God is still part of this creative world, it means that we need to be open to where the spirit leads. It is easy to become set in our ways, or bitter in our work, because we only see the dark side of humanity. We might say, “How could God let such things happen?”

I do believe that God created humanity basically good. This is an odd thing to say when we (the police and fire departments) deal with those that fall short of that expectation, but if we listen to the yearnings from within where God speaks I find that all  (or most) are drawn to the good. Even the most despicable characters on the street …. (ok, that is a bit idealistic, but I am an idealist!)

Let me tell you a story that exemplifies the point in relationship to our work in the police and fire departments.  A young man in one of my parishes, now 25, was less than “good” in his teens.  ….... let’s say he was into street pharmacology. His favorite drug was “More.”  His perspective was twisted to say the least. He is lucky that he is alive. He dove deeply into the drug world for 6 years until one day the enticement to the good, as I mentioned before, helped him shake the drug habit.

The enticement came in the form of a couple officers giving him …. let’s say, the benefit of free lodging at the local jailhouse. His arrest gave him pause to change his life. Today he is 5 years clean and sober, working daily and in love. Did the good come from the arrest? Did God speak to him; his higher power and changed his life? He would say an emphatic YES! God spoke to him through the men and women in blue and his life changed. God is still speaking.

It is very easy to become hard and crass when all we see is the dark side of humanity, but the fact is that the thin blue line not only protects and serves, but more than we may know, pulls some from the depths of despair into the light of hope. So I would like to say thank you to the officers and firefighters for the work that you do, you make Longmont a better place. Let’s say “God is Still Speaking.”…. through you. 

The Longmont Police Chaplain's Unit is a valuable resource to the community and department.  Chaplains ride-along with officers to get to know the officers and the intricacies their work.  Chaplains are frequently called on to give comfort to grieving victims and relatives of victims.  Police Chaplains are on call at all times of the day, all days of the week.  Police Chaplains are also a resource for police officers and their families in times of grief or need. 

No one is confronted with more situations that demoralize and create emotional, mental and spiritual burdens than today's law enforcement officer. These burdens also affect the officer's family and other members of his or her department. Law enforcement agencies need the specialized guidance, counseling and assistance for their officers, families and communities.

A law enforcement chaplain is a clergyperson with special interest and training for providing pastoral care in the high powered and dangerous world of law enforcement. This pastoral care is offered to all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, creed, or religion. It is offered without cost or the taint of proselytizing.

The law enforcement chaplain is led in his or her own faith to be available and ready to serve those in need. The chaplain's ministry provides a source of strength to the law enforcement officers and their families, other department members, the community, and the incarcerated.

The law enforcement officer's clergyperson or religious advisor in private life, although trained in ministry, is not necessarily abreast of the particular problems and dangers faced by officers.  Chaplains listen and participate in the workplace of law enforcement officers with empathy and experience, advising calmly in the midst of turmoil and danger, and offering assistance when appropriate or requested.

Police officers often say to chaplains that " I wouldn't do the difficult work you do for anything !" They are trained and able to face armed robbers or investigate an accident. But a sobbing parent at a SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) incident can erase even the most stoic officer's composure.  Entering that saddest of moments is no easier for a chaplain, but the chaplain brings experience, training and skills to the tragedy that are as specialized as the law enforcement resources every officer develops with training and experience.

As a team, both chaplain and officer make an important difference in the lives of persons touched by tragedy. We work together.  The chaplain is "chaplain" for everyone, not the religious leader of a particular tradition serving a particular congregation.  Chaplains serve many personal and spiritual needs of individuals where they are, when they need the support of another person who comes to them without judgment, with openness, and cares for them until the crisis moment is over.

Chaplains respect the persons they serve, even though there may be profound differences in race, gender, economic status, religious experience and many other factors.  Chaplains can be called at any hour, in all kinds of weather. Mostly, they listen. But they also comfort people who are shaking with fear with a gentle touch...or perhaps, if someone asks, a prayer will be offered in guarded privacy to support the trembling of spirit that comes in difficult moments.

Chaplains also understand the difficulties of public bureaucracies, assisting with the "red tape" moments of life for officers and the public alike. They spend many hours riding as active passengers with officers on patrol duty.  They also participate in a wide variety of training programs with their officer partners. Often chaplains are asked to teach classes on dealing with stress, family life, relationships, ethics, and other issues.