The Chaplains of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department recently attended training in Washington D.C. Sept. 14-16, with the goal of serving the SCMPD family and community more effectively.
SCMPD Chaplain Coordinator Charles Roberson, along with Chaplains Willie Ferrell, John Lyons, Quinton Morris, Larry McDaniel, Bill Gardner and Thurmond Tillman, attended the training.
Training topics covered a variety of issues, such as precinct visitations, serving families and crime victims, death notifications, Chaplain policies and procedures, clergy confidentially, and noticing signs of stress with law enforcement officers.
“Law Enforcement officers like those in government are many times overwhelmed and the Chaplains learned how to be a listening ear, and a source of support for those that they serve,” Chaplain Roberson said.
Suicide awareness and prevention training for the Chaplains helped better equip them to serve the SCMPD family.
“This was in depth and personal training,” Roberson said. “The Chaplains listened as the wife of someone that committed suicide explained her journey with the hopes of gaining greater insight on this subject.”
Lastly, during their trip the SCMPD Chaplains also had the opportunity to train with Chaplain Barry Black, the Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. Chaplain Black is a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and was elected the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate on July 7, 2003. Chaplain Black gave the SCMPD Chaplains exclusive time, sharing the history of the Senate Chaplains and how Chaplains can better serve their agencies with efficiency and effectiveness.
Chaplain Black also shared personal time with the Chaplains of the SCMPD explaining to them how he interacts with lawmakers, and how Chaplains can be more effective working within governmental and the law enforcement community.
Following their time with Chaplain Black, the SCMPD Chaplains were able to attend a study session conducted by Chaplain Black in the U.S. Senate Building and offered a prayer for Chaplain Black and all of government leaders.
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