Will Anyone Listen?

I am writing this as a longtime Police Chaplain and someone who has witnessed far too many police suicides over the recent years here in Canada. I address my thoughts to police management, police officers and even police chaplains. I counted 4 suicides just in the last few days and many in the wellness area of policing are understandably upset. However, the claim is that management doesn't have the resources to handle the obvious concern. I agree to a certain extent but perhaps the problem lies with seeing what is staring everyone right in the face.

Before and during my time as a police chaplain, I like many pastors, faced crisis after crisis in the church I led. We dealt with people in their darkest moments and becoming a police chaplain simply added another layer: police officers. There are some police services in this country that are doing everything they can to make chaplains irrelevant. Those same individuals who could be a resource for hurting officers are instead being pushed to the sidelines due to ignorance. I do not use that word lightly.

Diversity over rides the needs of men and women who serve our cities simply because there is a lack of understanding on how to use chaplains. The first big stumbling block for senior officers is defining the role chaplains could have. As long as we continue to leave the impression that these men and women are nothing but "religious" individuals, the usefulness of chaplains is undermined. The problem is that many of our chaplains like to be seen as "religious". I have said it before: they should not be chaplains within law enforcement.

I see chaplains in a totally different light that up until now, most want to ignore. Let me ask a question: what is the one thing that chaplains can do that mental health professionals can't? In my years as a chaplain with Toronto Police Service, I probably did over 100 ride alongs. I attended just as many parades (briefings prior to platoons heading out) and each time I did so, I built relationships and trust. Our psychologists very seldom if ever experience this and yet they are the ones management presents as the first contact. I don't have to say that most would never head into an office with a dozen eyes watching them as they quite possibly commit career-ending "suicide". 

One service in Canada recently decided that ride alongs for chaplains is a bad idea so they are banned from patrol cruisers. In fact they can't be called chaplains. This at a time when wellness folks both in police services and outside providers, are demanding a better way for desperate cops to get help. Does anyone see how bizarre this is? My guess is that if the wrong leaders start making these decisions, many other services will follow suit in the name of diversity. The funny thing is, chaplains never seem to be included in the "diversity".

As I write this I am well aware that not every cop who wants to harm themselves, will reach out for help. There are however a multitude of issues facing our officers, including family struggles that are brought to work. PTSD and other Operational Stress Injuries continue to surface due to the nature of the job. Why not use chaplains (those who are qualified) as an initial point of contact. The thing is, management has to work a lot harder in identifying chaplains as a "safe" place to go. Other than peer support, other options don't always feel safe even if we insist it is getting better. I have been in way too many cruisers to know that the rank and file don't see the options available right now as "safe".

I have nothing to gain my sticking my nose in where (if I can say this) it belongs. I know many individuals who serve faithfully within Wellness both in police services and places like Boots on the Ground, Badge of Life Canada, Beyond The Blue, Wounded Warriors and others. How do we get those in need to these resources?

My solution might not sit well with those who have no use for people of faith. There in lies the difficulty. We want to make it about our preferences and out biases rather than about those who are in desperate need of someone to come alongside them. I put this out there once again because Christmas is often the time when cops are suffering in silence. I know this because it is true in society as a whole. I hope some people in leadership positions begin to use the unique resource called police chaplaincy.

Common Sense

This will be a "politically incorrect" response to something Calgary Police Service has implemented in what used to be called "Chaplaincy". This is solely my opinion. I write this after speaking with a couple of CPS officers individually two days ago, when they pointed out a few more facts about a strange decision to restrict access by their Chaplains to the members . Today came news about the suicide of a Calgary cop.

In my experience as a Police Chaplain in Toronto and knowledge of chaplaincy across law enforcement around the world, I have no problem calling out the leadership of CPS for their terrible decision. This happened months ago so what the officers were reacting to, has already been enforced. No ride alongs are allowed and Chaplains are no longer permitted into briefings prior to shifts. Both are a common practice in police services. Chaplains are no longer allowed to be called "Chaplains" and beautiful donated pews in the HQ chapel have been removed and replaced with folding chairs. I kid you not!

You may already have picked up where this is all going. Christians are no longer welcome. The reason is simple: it offends somebody. Because of this, a valuable and necessary resource for the wellbeing of frontline officers, their families and other members, has effectively been removed.

There has always been a stark difference between Chaplains and company psychologists and other mental health professionals. As Chaplains we get to be boots on the ground during ride alongs and even the parades (briefings) prior to heading out for a shift. We are able to build relationships and more importantly trust so that when issues do arise, we are a safe place to go for help. That has been removed in Calgary.

The removal of pews boarders on pettiness. The interesting thing is that this is all done under the label of "diversity". Toronto Police, where I served as a Chaplain for many years, was the first in Canada to focus on diversity. The Canadian Police Chaplain Association has increasingly brought in diverse voices within it's organization but none have eliminated the Christian backbone of Police Chaplaincy.

The question is, who came up with this idea? I will not point fingers at anyone because in Toronto and the CPCA, we have worked together despite our individual faith traditions. When I moved to Alberta 2 years ago, I approached the lead Chaplain about the possibility of joining CPS as a Chaplain. Her response was a clear one: "Christians need not apply". That was not her decision but one that had been made for her.

When I woke up this morning to hear of another law enforcement suicide, I was quite frankly angered more than anything else. Somehow we still have people in leadership positions in the 1st Responder community that believe their personal beliefs trump the wellbeing of those who serve. Having access to a Chaplain might not have prevented today's suicide but it certainly could have helped. All resources need to be easily accessed and in Calgary that has changed.

Let me make something very clear. Chaplains, regardless of their faith, are there to serve all members regardless of the their faith or lack there of. We do not promote our faith by preaching or judging. I always joke that none of us would have a job if we preached at officers. Somehow that fact has never reached the individuals who make these decisions of exclusion.

I want to encourage the management of CPS to revisit the decisions made to limit the effectiveness of your Chaplains. You owe it to your men and women and their families. 

Not Looking For Work

Let me begin this blog by stating very clearly that I am not looking for work. In my LinkedIn profile, you will soon notice a few new positions I have taken on but that is not what I am referring to. 

Within the policing community, suicides have become far too common. The general public usually don't hear about them other than the fact a police officer has died. A couple of weeks ago I read the story of a female officer who took her own life in Texas. A photo was posted of her and it told us that she had been a pilot for the US Air Force before becoming a cop many years later. I should also mention that she looked beautiful. 

The weird thing about suicide is that we often don't know why the person decided to end their life. To look at this cop, you would think she had everything going for her. When you serve your country and community your whole life, you would think those around you would respect and even honour you. Yet there was something or things, that caused her to take the extreme step of suicide.

As a Chaplain within the policing community in Canada I have training through an organization called ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). In others words, Suicide First Aid. It helps us to identify individuals like this officer and how to help them at a dark moment in their lives. The sad thing is that despite this training, cops and others who have Suicidal Ideation (thoughts of suicide) often fall between the cracks because they feel nobody can help them.

I mentioned that I wasn't looking for work but I have to make myself available for those who are at the "end of their rope". The system is broken for 1st Responders in this area of mental health despite what law enforcement tells their members on an ongoing basis. As an example of this, someone like me is almost always overlooked as a resource for those with Suicidal Ideation because we are seen as a "spiritual" resource. If you are a practicing Christian you will probably recognize that we should perhaps be one of the first resources made a available. That is seldom the case and it is due to management that has no understanding of how to utilize Police Chaplains.

The term, "all hands on deck" is how I would frame this. Rather than making departmental mental health workers the "go to people", why not make the difficult decision to seek out help easier? Why not use ALL the resources that are available to the person who is often afraid to go for help. Here is what I am thinking and which I  recently submitted as a paper to our Canadian Police Chaplain Association for distribution.

My thoughts centre around this one fact: "It is not about us but rather about the person who needs help"

Mental Health professionals and Chaplains are sometimes at odds with one another because quite frankly, there is a misunderstanding by both groups. As Chaplains we sometimes believe that only God can heal individuals who are suicidal. And as a Christian, I fully believe that God can do that, however...

I also believe God gave us Mental Health professionals who are equipped to help those who think they have no hope. The challenge (in my eyes at least) is how these two roles can better serve those we are all trying to assist? Eduction is the first step and it takes on two very distinct goals. First, Chaplains need to get training (if they don't already have it) on mental health. That is available through many resources so there is never an excuse not to receive the training. Also, it means Chaplains must spend time with the rank and file and not just make occasional appearances at ceremonial functions. Ride alongs if available are crucial in gaining credibility because a cruiser can quickly become your office during a 4 to 8 hour shift. 

The other thing, is the Wellness Units of police services must make Chaplains an equal partner in presenting us as resources and not an afterthought. Herein lies the crux of what I am suggesting. As a Chaplain we have a much better opportunity to build relationships and trust with officers and staff. That is because we are present whereas departmental mental health resources are sitting in their offices and often seen as an open door to career derailment. I have sat in enough cruisers during ride alongs to confirm this.

How do we get those with suicidal ideation to a place where they can get the help they need? It won't happen if management keeps insisting that going to the departmental "shrink" is safe and not "career suicide". I present to you, the Chaplain. If and only if, the Chaplain within a division has made the effort to build trust, he or she becomes the "safe" landing spot for those who are desperately looking for help. Of course it will never be a guarantee but the option must be there instead of hidden in some unrecognizable spiritual maze that an officer would never go to.

Police services in this country have the right intentions but whether it is ignorance of Chaplaincy or bad experiences with clergy, it is a resource that is under-utilized and even ignored in times of greatest need. A good example of this is in a large Canadian city where Chaplains have been forbidden to do ride alongs. The very thing that would allow Chaplains to be seen as a safe place has been ripped away due to someone in management that probably has their own prejudices when it comes to matters of faith.

As long as we make it about "us" rather than "them", individuals will be left isolated and the feeling of hopelessness will continue. We all need to do our part for the sake of those who may only have a few days or months before they take matters into their own hands. Let's make this work!

 

My Time As a Police Chaplain

 A photo journal of my time as a Police Chaplain, starting in 2002.

                

                                                  Starting off at 41 Division in Scarborough

                                                                                    

                                                                           The Badge

Presented by 41 Division on last day

Day before moving to Estonia

Facilitated Ethics Training to Estonian Police

After a year at 31 Division, returned in 2016 at 14 Division

                                                           With Chief Saunders and Anne

                                                              

                                                     Recognized as top Police Chaplain by BOLC

One day seminar at our home church by BOLC

                                                    BOLC Introducing themselves to PAOC

                                                                                     

                                             

                                                                        In TPS Dress Uniform

                                                                                                                                         

                                          

                                                                  Ride along in Miami Beach

                                                                                                               `                                                                                                 

                                              With long time friend and my church elder, Kevin

                                            

                                     My long time friend Ken, riding in honour of his late colleague 

                                                                                                 Yonge Street Van Attack in which I participated in debriefs for first officers on scene                                                                                                            

                                               

                                                   Memorial Service for victims of Van Attack

                                           

                                        Invictus Games gathering of faith groups & TPS Wellness

                                           

      At long term care where I was Chaplain. Ed was a former TPS cop and British airman during WW2

                                                       

                                            In between visits and ride alongs at 11 & 14 Divisions

                                            

                                                   Halloween at my other LTC in St. Catharines

                                                                         

                                                        Officiating at Remembrance Day at LTC

         

        Advertisement for Ukraine Police Chaplain Training in Kyiv

                                             

                         Large gathering for first-ever Police Chaplain training presented by Bruce and me

                                             

                                                                      In Maiden Square, Kyiv

 

                                              

                                                             Given opportunity to speak to crowd 

                                             

                                                                    Posing with Kyiv officers       

                                             

                                                 Two young officers asking to take a photo with us

                                                        

                                                   After a 14 hours train ride from Kyiv to Mariupol

                                                                                    

                                            

 Meeting with Chief of Patrol Police in Mariupol. He would later be a prisoner when Russia invaded but                                                                     was eventually released.

                                             

                                         Meeting with Chief of National Police while in Mariupol

 

                                                       

                                             Speaking at one of several churches about chaplaincy

                                             

                        Spoke at several police stations across eastern Ukraine on the topic of chaplaincy

                                             

Posing with senior officers. This station would be totally destroyed by Russian bombs during the war

                                                 

                                          Honoured to receive this medal from Ukraine, 2 years later

                                         

                              Four colleagues at funeral of Niagara Regional Police Service officer

            

       

  At a Canadian Police Chaplain Association Seminar

      

         The Covid look

      

     Outside the Tim Hortons after murder of Const. Hong

   

I had planned an Appreciation BBQ at 11 Division which landed between the murder and funeral. First outing for the new Chief in his civvies.

  

I spent about an hour mingling with officers from numerous services prior to the funeral procession

       

   Me marching beside Traffic Services, where Const. Hong served

   

    Sitting with Traffic officers during funeral

 Award ceremony for TPS Chaplains

Behind my computer presenting Police Chaplaincy via Zoom to government officials, clergy and police in the country of Georgia.

 

Now a Chaplain with the RCMP

 

With a view from our porch

   

   Official shirt of CPCA where I was Registrar for a year

Teaching at CPCA session in Winnipeg on my Chaplain experiences

The group at our annual CPCA seminar

Our table at the CPCA Banquet

All the Alberta Chaplains

One of the Corporals I did a ride-along with

Granddaughter with two Municipal cops in Cochrane and our CO for RCMP

Opening of our new Protective Services building

                                         A few of the memories from my police chaplain days