Police Chaplain Program

The objectives of the Chaplain Program are as follows:

• To provide an effective service and ministry to the City and the Fortuna Police Department in particular.
• To serve as a resource for department personnel when dealing with the public in such incidents as accidental deaths, suicides, suicidal subjects, serious accidents, drug and alcohol abuse, and other such situations that may arise.
• To provide, when necessary, counseling, spiritual guidance, insight and alertness for the department personnel and their families.
• To be as readily available as possible in the chaplain ministry without endangering their ministry work.
• To link the police department and civil agencies together for spiritual guidance and a recognition of spiritual values and contributions in civil and domestic life.
• After family notification, to respond to the hospital when an officer has been seriously injured or killed.
• Visit sick and injured police personnel in the hospital when an officer has been seriously injured or killed.
• Attend and participate, when requested, in the funerals of active or retired members of the department.
• Be on call and, if at all possible, be on the streets during any major demonstration, or at any public function requiring the presence of a large number of department personnel.
• Participate in in-service training classes for personnel.
• Be willing to enter into training courses to enhance their own effectiveness.
• Attend department graduations, promotion activities, award ceremonies, dinners, social events, etc. and offer invocations and benedictions.
• Represent the department before official bodies and at public functions upon request of the Chief of Police.
• Be responsible for the organization and development of the spiritual organizations in the department.
• Respond to all major disasters.
• Be involved in public relations efforts.
• Provide liaison with other religious leaders in the community.
• When responding to the scene of death or injury, whether departmental person or private citizens, to notify the person's personal clergy person as soon as possible.
• Make referrals in cases where specialized attention is needed, or in those cases beyond the chaplain's ability to assist.

Selection of Chaplains:

• A member of the clergy that is interested in becoming a Fortuna Police Department Chaplain must submit an application. Upon successful completion of a background process, the Chief of Police may appoint the chaplain to service.
• Law Enforcement chaplains, when so approved, are representatives of their denominations but ecumenical in service. Their acceptability as chaplains in contingent upon their continued good standing within the religious organization they represent.
• Fortuna Police Department Chaplains ride along with regular officers of the Fortuna Police Department. They also ride along with members of the Fortuna Police Department Senior Citizens on Patrol unit. They have been trained to assist officers with traffic control, first aid and communications. Officer safety has been stressed and they are not allowed to take any enforcement action.

Confidentiality:

• Unless otherwise requested by the chaplain and/or those being assisted, matters of a personal nature will remain private and confidentiality will be respected.
• It is not the intent of the Fortuna Police Department's Chaplain program that the chaplains serve as an informant to the Chief of Police while performing counseling services for department members.
• All members of the Fortuna Police Department Chaplain program wear a distinct uniform and badge. It is distinct in that the shirt will be equipped with a chaplain's snap collar, and the badge will have a cross as a centerpiece.