You can listen to the below blog post on Spotify or other providers.
“My head hurts from being pummeled repeatedly with rocks. My arms and torso ache from taking direct hits from water bottles flung at us. My shin hurts from a tear gas canister that someone threw back at us. My back hurts from having to wear riot gear for 7 hours on top of my normal 30 extra pounds of gear. I vomited for 10 minutes into a toilet when I got home this morning. My sense of dignity is hurt by the unspeakable things that were said to my brothers and sisters in blue who happen to be black. My sense of family is hurt by the unspeakable things that were said to us about our own children, parents, and siblings. And my heart breaks for the city that I love. I know my city is hurting right now. I know people are angry and want answers. But there’s only one way we can move forward together, right now: love. Lots and lots of love. Connect. Respect. Protect. And Love. Time to go keep the peace.” – Ofc. Brad Philip, Public Facebook Post, 9/21/16
As time passes, physical wounds might heal, but emotional wounds and bad memories can remain. I came across the above post recently in a Facebook memory, and indeed, it brought back a lot of memories. This was one of several difficult times for law enforcement over the past decade or so. Those whom we wish to serve can reject us harshly and unfairly at times. So, I very much admire this officer’s wisdom and insight in the face of adversity. We cannot undo bad things with more bad actions. As part of the law enforcement culture, we might not use the word often enough, but love is the only way forward.
In the Jewish tradition, there is a concept called hesed. The Hebrew word hesed simply means loving-kindness. The use of this word incorporates kindness, mercy, and steadfast love as mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures. When humans share hesed, they are reflecting the Divine Being’s nature (or the more secular might argue, an ultimate value). We are offering love for love’s sake. It is not about someone deserving it. It is not romantic love, but it is a kind of deep, connecting love, nonetheless. It recognizes the intrinsic sanctity of all life. It is love offered in action for others as a redeemer and protector.[i]
In any relationship, we can never make someone love us or treat us well. All that we can do is take ownership of our own actions. As our siblings in Twelve Step programs discover, we only have power to clean up our side of the street.[ii] In seeking to love others, even our enemies, we can help accomplish what other scriptures from varied religions and spiritual philosophies argue using varied words. We can help ultimately defeat evil with good. People of goodwill tend to see such love in others and respond, but traditional enemies and bad actors sometimes do as well. It can disarm angry people who want to have an excuse (perhaps any excuse) to get angrier. Such love can transform people. It might transform yourself. This likely seems counter intuitive, but it works. I experienced this in my own time as a police officer, and I thank my FTO for demonstrating this kind of behavior for me to learn from and be inspired by.
“Connect. Respect. Protect. And Love.”[iii] I would argue that’s part of the attitude of hesed too. Hesed is slow and hard work. Yet when we live up to our call as law enforcement, this is the ultimate value we represent. Through seeking to represent such a love – as best as you understand it – in what can prove an unloving world, I think you will find that you won’t just be keeping the peace. Your faithful service will be helping create peace in the world and within yourself.
That’s it for this time. Stay safe, seek to do some good, and I hope to see you again soon.
[i] See HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. (1996). Achtemeir, P.J., General Editor. “Loving-kindness,” Gammie, J.G. San Francisco: Harper Collins. p. 627-628.
[ii]Alcoholics Anonymous. (1990). New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., p. 77-78.
[iii] Ofc. Brad Philip, public Facebook post, 2016.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast, we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
Original photo by Tim Mossholder on unsplash.com. Used by permission.
I don’t usually post my sermons on this podcast, but I think this particular sermon will resonate with many working in any field related to first responders. I look at the commands for sabbath rest found in scripture in light of my own experience as a police officer in the late 1980s through mid-90s. This subject of sabbath rest is a common value that often crisscrosses the spectrum of religious faiths and secular philosophies. Rest is critical! Whether you think the story of God’s commandments is divine inspiration or just an ancient wisdom tale, I think you will find something to help orient you in your work and restore your spirit. If you would like to hear more on the subject of rest, listen to the special crossover episode (S1, E7) “Self-Care and Sabbath Rest.”
If and when someone mentions the word “sabbath,” what comes to mind? Often, people think about coming to church for services, or restful activities (like golf or fishing, taking a nap), or family activities and dinners. That can all be part of sabbath practices, but there’s a lot more implied by that little biblical word. Over the next three weeks, the Narrative Lectionary asks us to take a break and reflect upon what sabbath is, why God commanded it, and how are we can rightly observe it.
Now, you might recall that the Ten Commandments or Ten Sayings of God in Hebrew are mentioned explicitly in the Jewish scriptures (our Old Testament) only three times (once in Exodus and twice in Deuteronomy). Yet, they remain key to all that comes afterward…key to who the newly freed Israelites are to become…even foundational to what Jesus will teach. Recall that these Twelve Tribes of Israel have survived the horrors and burdens of slavery, and they have come out wounded. They don’t have a good idea of who they are as a people or of their purpose. They are prone to selfishness and infighting. They might be easily influenced by the world around them. So, God provides Moses and his people a structure for their lives. Through these sayings, God commands that they love God, but also commands the love of family, and love of community. These commands are meant to help us love as God loves.
You might also know that some suggest that there are 613 other commandments (or mitzvot) found in the Jewish scriptures (people can count differently), but “the Ten” are the only ones that come directly from God. And all those other dietary laws, and laws about appearance, worship, and civil law relate to the ten – come out of them…are meant to magnify them, The Laws of Moses are all meant (as strange as they might sound to our modern ears) to help Israelites love and worship God and love the neighbor as oneself. As my professor Dr. Dean McBride argued, the Ten Commandments serve as a polity for the Israelites (a kind of constitution), so that they can become kodesh olam, a holy people set apart, the Holy People of God.
So isn’t it interesting that among these ten sayings, we find the command to take a sabbath…to stop doing and just be. Yet “sabbath” isn’t just about you. You are to give a sabbath to your family, your workers, any slaves, even your animals. Isn’t that curious? To become who they are called to be, meant to be, the Israelites are told to promote rest. Much as God ceased work on the seventh day of creation, they are to cease all their work. Yet as a people that has been formally forced to work sometimes seven days a week in Egypt as slaves, God indicates that this practice isn’t just about remembering the creation of the world. God says, “Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.” The sabbath is a day to cease work but also a day to embody and remember our faith that God has saved us and loves us. God will provide. So, we can relax.
And so over time, the idea of going to the Temple, or synagogue, or eventually Christian church became intimately connected to the concept of “sabbath.” In community, we can hear of God’s glory, share in community life, and offer worship and praise. Yet it seems that it wasn’t always this way. Some scholars think that the destruction of Temple of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile gave rise to synagogues sometime after 597 BC. Before that, the Temple, and before that the Tent of Meeting would have priestly activities conducted on the Sabbath, but there was no expectation of the average person’s presence. Primarily, most people just ceased all work. As time passed in the face of persecution, wars, and exile…as the People of God continued to separate themselves from the pagan practices of those around them, they discovered how helpful corporate worship could be in facilitating the people’s understanding of their identities and call. By Jesus’ time, there were pious people who would gather on the Sabbath to sing hymns, listen to scripture, and hear Rabbi’s (or “teachers”) apply the scriptures to one’s daily life. This is much as we do today, and much as faithful Jews do today.
Rest and remember, those are two keys to becoming more of who we were created and meant to be. Certainly, our insurance companies have finally taken notice at some level. All these centuries later, in the Federal government and businesses, one will hear about wellness wheels where we are encouraged to see to the needs of not only our physical body, but also our mental, emotional, and even spiritual selves. As humans, we might understand spirituality differently (that openness to the idea that we are part of something greater than ourselves), but somehow these parts of who we are all interact. They are all connected in our make-up. Yes, the ancient practices of Sabbath helped the Israelites perform better, be better, and grow individually and in community, as much as the practice can help us do so today.
For example, when I was a young police officer working countless hours on midnight shift, volunteering to serve at other times for extra pay, chasing after promotion, without recognizing it, I was running myself ragged. Add to that a toxic mix of trauma and constant stress (basically life – we all experience stress), and I ended up in crisis. My relationships were suffering as were aspects of my health. Then with the help of friends who saw my suffering as well as God’s help (I would argue), I sought to reorient my life toward a more scriptural understanding. I continued to seek to care for others but now also myself. I came to a new understanding that caring for myself was not selfish if done in order to love God and neighbor better. Indeed, I was reminded that God’s commands can be summarized by this, “Loving God with our whole body, heart, and soul (all that we are), and loving our neighbor as ourselves”…That is “AS ourselves,” not better than ourselves.
Because God loves us, within his commands, we discover a healthy love of self can promote love of God and others…It can enrich our lives! And in my case, as a Sergeant pointed out to me without knowing any of my efforts during an annual review that first year, he began to see me perform better and become more patient and kinder. I also found that I handled stress better. Even at some life and death moments, I found that I thought more clearly and discerned more options for how I could respond to the world. I discovered that I became more resilient.
Rest and remember. That’s good advice, for as humans we can easily fall into survival mode. We can find ourselves far from the abundant life Jesus promised. We can burn out rather than burn brightly with the love of Christ. Some might stop superficially at the command to rest and remember never going deeper. Many might become legalistic about it. Others might even become rigid and busy in how they play and vacation – doing, doing, doing. Yet Jesus taught there is more going on here. He told the rabbis of his time that the Sabbath Day was created for us as a blessing. It is not about you being a bad person because your butt is not in a pew every time the door is open. It isn’t just about sleep or vacation. Sure, these things need to be prioritized at times…taken seriously…but we are not given the gift of life for the sake of sabbath. The sabbath is a gift given us so that we can discover a more abundant life.
As an article I read recently suggests, some might judge you harshly for not being at Church.[i] It is true that you might be hurting yourself and in your absence be hurting others who need your presence. They might need your witness of faith, or even just a kind word in passing from you. Yet there are times that our call to be family or serve in the world might also take precedence. And so, the Church has historically discerned that if you cannot be present or have to work or volunteer on any Sunday, be sure to take another Sabbath Day.
Indeed, as early Christians were thrown out of the synagogues and persecuted, our Sabbath Day moved from the Jewish practice of Saturday to Sunday, the day we remember Christ’s resurrection for our sake. So, sabbath is not exclusively about one special day in the week whether Saturday or Sunday. It is not solely about worship.
Again, there’s more going on here. Bonnie Gray, who writes a lot on sabbath rest, argues, “Jesus’ response to our lack of rest is shockingly opposite of these condemning voices.” Jesus taught, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you” …and you will find the rest your souls hunger for. Not surprisingly, God’s heart for us and our need for rest goes deeper than we ourselves can obtain on our own. Even for sabbath, we need God’s help – God’s grace. True sabbath, Bonnie Gray argues, is returning to who God created us to be. Accepted and beloved just as we are.”[ii]
Yes, she goes on, rest contains emotional honesty. We are not gods. We need forgiveness. We need food for our journey. We need to hear of God’s love for us. Rest means that we won’t allow a world that shouts at us, “Do more! Be perfect! Work harder!” to define us. Only God’s love ultimately defines us, and God says it is not only ok, but it can be good to rest. It is important to stop and remember that we are loved, need to share love, and need to be loved. And so there is a relational component to rest. Just as Jesus ate and laughed with his disciples, just as he encouraged their vulnerability to one another and to God, we come to understand that rest is an experience of being known. It is good to have people who you can just be your imperfect self with. In seeking holy, purposeful rest, she says that we resist the noise around us, and we grow still to know God better and listen to God’s whispers.
As much as God fed and cared for Elijah when he was at his physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual limit, God seeks to bless us through rest. Our intimacy with and healthy dependance upon God will grow from the process of rest. And like all of creation that rests in the love of God, as the prophet Isaiah pointed out, we too will break forth into shouts of joy (Isa. 14:7). In closing, Bonnie Gray suggests that rest is giving yourself grace “to receive all the good, instead of letting in the guilt.” “Move as God prompts you,” she urges, “inspired by [God’s] goodness, rather than fear or guilt.” And I would add, rather than from any selfish motivations.
Surrounded by crowds needing forgiveness and healing, with the weight of the world’s salvation on his shoulders, it is important for us to notice that Jesus would break away to pray in the mountains or spend time with those whom he loved. Jesus would go to the Synagogue for the gift of communal worship. Jesus would sleep or allow angels or others minister to him. Jesus in human form – as busy as he was, as important as his mission was – knew he needed sabbath. So, why are we so prideful to deny our own need? Yes, Holy Wisdom proclaims, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecc. 3:1). This includes sabbath…includes holy rest. Jesus proclaimed that he came that those he loves may have life and have it abundantly. Taking on his yoke, receiving the gift of abundant life, includes taking on his many practices of sabbath rest – not as obligation, but as a means of grace. God commanded sabbath because God knows our needs as created creatures and loves us. Amen.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE: Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
The Footwashing Series #2: Justice, by Salt + Gold
On February 1, 2023, I had the opportunity to present at the Virginia Synod (ELCA’s) Midwinter Power in the Spirit. The theme of the online event was “Blessed are…” – a three evening examination of the Beatitudes. For my part, I was asked to speak to a group of Virginia Lutherans, the majority who had no law enforcement experience, about “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”
Using the extreme experience of law enforcement as a lens, I hoped to help people better understand the complexity, sacrifice and blessing of trying to be a peacemaker in our modern world. With this audience, the presentation was explicitly Christian, but it draws upon sociology and other fields of inquiry. You will likely hear something to challenge the understanding of your experience or affirm it in a helpful way. As always, you are invited to keep the conversation going. Please share this presentation or email me with any comments or questions. A video version of this presentation will be released by the Virginia Synod soon, and I will add the link here. You can learn more about the Virginia Synod at vasynod.org.
To listen to my presentation through my podcast, visit: Midnights LEO on Anchor or your favorite podcast provider.
You can also watch an edited, video version provided by the Virginia Synod (ELCA):
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE: Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
My valued friend and colleague, Fr. Ethan Lowery, hosts an on-going conversation with friends about rest, sabbath, and resisting the overbearing cultural pressure to work/produce/be available all the time. He shares these conversations through a podcast primarily aimed at young adults called Non-Working Title.
Although originally intended for the young adults whom he serves, this episode’s discussion will likely be very relatable and helpful to first responders. Topics covered in this crossover episode include: trauma, secondary trauma, family systems, addiction, sleep issues, and more. This episode will echo some topics and illustrations mentioned in “Self-Care when helping others” (S1, E7), but it is much more conversational, personal, and expansive. I offer my thanks to Fr. Ethan for his allowing me to share this edited version of my interview here.
For those that don’t know him, Fr. Ethan Lowery (he/him) is an Episcopal Priest and young adult and campus missioner here locally in Fredericksburg, VA. He shares often that his interest in young adult ministry is rooted in being a young adult and having experienced himself the Church not always knowing what to do with 20- and 30-somethings. You can learn more at The House FXBG.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE: Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
This episode incorporates an approximately forty minute class offered to members of the Hanover County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office with permission. Chaplain program participants and support staff were the primary audience, yet as Captain Terry Sullivan states in the introduction, the self care principals apply across the helping vocations, especially law enforcment officers. The class was recorded live on December 2, 2022. You can find the recording at my anchor.fm site or on other podcast providers: CLICK HERE.
Please note as stated in the introduction, that a few of of my case studies or experiences were edited out for the sake of privacy. For example, as you join the class, the first example (edited in part) compares the experience of a stalker to how we might address the personification of other threats experienced by all of us at times. (You will note a gap and transition in the conversation from the intro to asking for ideas on how to respond to the scneario.)
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast, we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
Chaplain Lou Florio at the 20th anniversary remembrance ceremony for the City of Fredericksburg in 2021
In 2021, I was honored as the local police chaplain to be asked to provide the invocation for the City of Fredericksburg’s 20th Anniversary 9-11 Memorial. The text of my prayer follows:
“Creator and sustainer of all that is or will ever be, look into our hearts and hear our hidden prayers of lament and hope. We gather this day to mark the horrific loss of life at Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the Pentagon, and in New York City. Twenty years have passed, but when we think of that day and the wars that followed, we find that wounds, grief, and anger often remain in our hearts. They have sadly become part of who we are. Yet, we were not created for or are we ultimately defined by such sin and suffering. We were made for life. And so, as we reflect on that day long ago, we also recall our fellow citizens who rose up from the ashes to love their neighbor, to serve, protect and bless. Through small kindnesses and heroic deeds, we made it through, and we walked on together to make it to this day. Many challenges still confront us. Fears threaten our peace. Misunderstandings can separate us. Yet that day long ago still has the power to teach and encourage us. Love matters, and when we trust that it does, death will never have the final word. As we gather this day and in any days that follow, bless us with the wisdom of the elders who came before us that we might see in our neighbors ourselves…that we might learn the truth that we are all relatives. It is you who calls us to love, serve and forgive one another. You call us to new life and beginnings. Through this time together, comfort, encourage and strengthen us for our journey ahead – a journey you ask us to walk together as one with you. Amen.”
As another 9-11 remembrance comes around, feel free to use it or adapt it if you find it helpful or meaningful in any way. Never forget. May the Lord help us to heal, forgive, and reconcile as God’s children.
You can listen to the above post on its accompanying podcast on anchor or on other providers.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast, we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
The audio version of this podcast can be found on anchor and other podcast providers..
In a previous blogpost and podcast, Season 1, Episode 3, I first tried to unpack the unhealthy relationship between cynicism and police culture. As I noted, one will hear officers often claim cynicism keeps them safer, but an incredible amount of research and my personal experience does not support this. Indeed, when cynicism takes hold within us, we tend to separate from others and isolate. We can often descend further toward burnout or worse. This condition reflects our broken, difficult interactions within an imperfect world. Cynicism is an unhealthy response where we ultimately hurt ourselves or others – often unintentionally. I often in gest call this process sin-icism. (Sin is often defined as a violation against religious law, but it also can be an action considered highly reprehensible or reflective of a serious fault.[i] For our use here, it need not be religious in nature.)
Don’t believe that cynicism can hurt if not kill? Well, just Google the words “cynicism,” “health,” and “police” sometime. People with high levels of cynical distrust may be more likely to develop dementia.[ii] And some researchers even suggest that pessimism and cynicism can negatively impact heart health.[iii] From these many studies, you will also discover that there is a suggested linkage between poor health and cynicism. Cynicism might tend to promote ill health, and ill health might promote cynicism. These conditions tend to worsen one another.[iv] And if you know street cops, you know that they often suffer from chronic pain, obesity, stress conditions and more as they become veterans and prepare to retire. Their ill health can promote cynicism, and it is likely a symptom of or connected to something deeper going on inside them. Their woundedness from years on the beat, poor selfcare, and unhealthy, quick meals on the go starts to take its tole on the physical and emotional components of the self. It warps their outlook about others and the world in a way that does not reflect reality. And with cynicism growing, they often can find their isolation from others increasing. It is self-perpetuating, and yet because cynicism is catchy, cynical people tend to find one another to reenforce their negative and faulty views.
One early FBI Bulletin on the topic was titled, Police Cynicism – A Cancer in Law Enforcement. The author argued, “The inherent stress and frustration found in the law enforcement profession provides an ideal breeding ground for the disorder.”[v] Basically, as social beings, we are influenced by both our experiences and those around us. As a police recruit, you might enter the field of law enforcement ready to help others, but soon you encounter a disproportionate number of people who are inhumane to one another. You meet people who wish to deceive you if not hurt you. And the violence you interact with over time can leave its imprint on your soul. You might experience moral injuries,[vi] or you might experience a form of compassion fatigue.[vii] Then add to this mix seasoned officers who, as they associate with you, tell stories of their disappointments and travail. In doing so, as you begin to identify your own experiences with theirs, they subtly influence your worldview. Administrative issues, pay issues, and more can leave officers not only righlty disgruntled but also quite cynical. And unfortunately, cynicism can spread to infect the entire agency. Variables such as gender, race, and relations in policing might impact this process for good or ill.[viii]
There’s no denying it. The mountain of evidence regardless of one’s vocation indicates cynicism doesn’t help us. It hurts us. It tends to wound the officers, their families, and those whom they swore to serve and protect. Despite what some people might say, no one joins police work to hurt people. Healthy people feel called to this vocation because they want to try to help people. Yet somehow, the job can wear down our idealism into cynicism.
Officers often identify their cynicism as a kind of protection. They claim it helps them be ready for attack, betrayal, or disappointment. It serves as a kind of wall or boundary shielding them from hurt. Yet, what it really does is shield one from deeper and more meaningful relationships. In expecting bad things from people, one might misinterpret and overreact to comments. In anticipating resistance, an officer might become prone to use of force when another approach would work better. As officers struggle to turn off their concerns and worries – ruminating, personalizing, and catastrophizing them – Ellen Kirschman, PhD suggests, “they can develop a kind of tunnel vision, tending to isolate themselves from others and associate only with other cops; therefore, they have a limited reality check on the universe.”[ix] Rather than keep danger out, officers might develop a tendency to keep good out too. Spousal and other family relations can suffer if not die. The resulting isolation and emotional harm might facilitate addiction, extramarital affairs, or promote depression and suicidal thoughts over time. Cynicism kills relationships and sometimes ultimately the cynic.
As I’ve suggested in the previous post, a healthy skepticism is warranted. People can hurt you or break your trust. The world can be dangerous. So, observe and test relationships. Trust someone with something about yourself and see how they do with what you have shared. If they proved trustworthy, trust some more. Do so, over and over again, and if they trust you back with the things they share, intimacy can grow. On calls, practice safety techniques, but don’t obsess about danger. Developing this kind of tunnel vision on a call can result in bad outcomes for you or others. You might miss opportunities to deescalate the situation, or identify solutions to the problems at hand, or even miss a greater danger at hand because of your assumptions. Best of all, the less cynical you are, the more friends…the larger support network…might develop. You will recognize there is still good in the world, and you aren’t alone. You will have others to help walk with you through good times and bad.
In closing, I hope what I’ve shared will open up your mind or the mind of someone you love to the realities of life. Life can be hard, but it can always be good. Why make life and relationships harder for yourself? Why hurt others with your unhealthy attitude or hurt your overall health? In a future episode I will try to offer you some antidotes to the cancer of cynicism. I hope you will come back and join me then. Until next time, stay safe, try to do some good, and I hope to see you again soon.
[vi] “In traumatic or unusually stressful circumstances, people may perpetrate, fail to prevent, or witness events that contradict deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. When someone does something that goes against their beliefs this is often referred to as an act of commission and when they fail to do something in line with their beliefs that is often referred to as an act of omission. Individuals may also experience betrayal from leadership, others in positions of power or peers that can result in adverse outcomes. Moral injury is the distressing psychological, behavioral, social, and sometimes spiritual aftermath of exposure to such events. A moral injury can occur in response to acting or witnessing behaviors that go against an individual’s values and moral beliefs.” Norman, S. PhD and Maguen, S. PhD (ud). Moral Injury. Downloaded fromhttps://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/cooccurring/moral_injury.asp
[vii] “Compassion fatigue is a term that describes the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others — often through experiences of stress or trauma. Compassion fatigue is often mistaken for burnout, which is a cumulative sense of fatigue or dissatisfaction.” See Compassion Fatigue: Symptoms to Look For at https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/signs-compassion-fatigue
[viii] Enciso, G., Maskaly, J., Donner, C.M. (20 March 2017). Organizational cynicism in policing: Examining the development and growth of cynicism among new police recruits [Abstract] in Policing: An International Journal.
[ix] Krischman, E., Ph.D. (2007). I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know (Rev. Ed.). New York: The Guilford Press. p. 32-34.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast, we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
Chaplain Lou discusses with author and veteran former police officer, Mark Bergin, his crime novel, Apprehension. Although fiction, the characters and culture of 1980/1990s policing are very realistic. Using the story and personal experience, Chaplain Lou and Mark discuss important self-care issues for law enforcement. To buy his book, search “Apprehension, by Mark Bergin” on your favorite online bookseller’s website. Guest bio: “Mark Bergin spent four years as a newspaper reporter, winning the Virginia Press Association Award for general news reporting, before joining the Alexandria, Virginia, Police Department in 1986. Twice named Police Officer of the Year for narcotics and robbery investigations, he served in most of the posts described in his debut novel APPREHENSION. Kirkus Reviews calls APPREHENSION “compelling,” and says Bergin is a “gritty and authentic new voice in police fiction.” APPREHENSION was a finalist for the 2020 Silver Falchion Award from Killer Nashville. He was also a contributor to the crime anthology The Eviction of Hope, published in 2021. Bergin is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Virginia Writers Club, and International Thriller Writers. Write him at berginwriter@gmail.com, or Facebook-friend him at Mark Bergin, Writer. He and his wife divide their time between Alexandria, Virginia and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.”
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast, we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
The topics of idealism and cynicism come up a lot in law enforcement circles – often as if they are opposites. I think there’s a better way to look at it….
Now that I’ve started to line up interviews and consider topics for this podcast, I am reminded how law enforcement is truly a subgroup of the larger society. In sociology, a subgroup is two or more humans who interact and share similar characteristics. A subgroup might be temporary – such as people bonding while waiting at a bus stop or as they might face a shared, passing problem such as long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Yet when people share the same social function or status, or cultural, ethnic, or racial identities and challenges, those social bonds might become more profound and lasting. As a social subgroup grows in a sense of unity, both positive and negative communal behavior patterns and outlooks can result.
For example, look at law enforcement. Most officers view themselves as set apart from others in their community due to the special nature and challenges of their shared vocation. Over time, they might start to isolate from those outside their law enforcement group. This might not be intentional. Perhaps they grow tired of answering what they view as stupid questions about policing, or they have heard one to many stories while attending a party about another cop who gave someone a ticket ten years ago. And as we have seen recently – much as in the 60s and 70s – some people can lump all of law enforcement together and therefore hate all those associated with law enforcement…the “all cops are bastards” crowd. These kind of people have always been around, but at times of social turmoil and disorganization, they can feel more safe about coming to the fore with their opinions if not attacks. Negative consequences during such periouds can grow less likely, and so such people can grow more bold.
As humans, as social beings, officers will likely start to more strongly identify and socially bond with those who share in this law enforcement experience over time than with others who do not. This law enforcement subgroup can affirm a sense of self-value and clear purpose. It can become a place of protection if not escape. That’s likely why some bars become “cop bars” over time. I’m going to reveal my age again. It’s much like the theme song to the old sitcom Cheers, “Sometimes you want to go; Where everybody knows your name; And they’re always glad you came; You want to be where you can see; Our troubles are all the same.”
So on one hand, subgroups or subcultures can be positive. They create a place of refuge and strength. Take for example what happens after an officer dies. Brothers and sisters in law enforcement grieve with the members of the suffering agency. More than that, they likely take up collections and send all kinds of support. At the same time, such a strong identity can lead to problems if we are not careful. Isolation can lead to group think. Unchallenged, unhealthy attitudes can take root and create a faulty lens for us as we look out on the world. Almost like an infection, negativity and hopelessness spreads. You might hear things like: “Everything is terrible.” “No one can be trusted.” “We are the only ones who care for one another.” This mindset is not reality. It is black and white thinking…the same thinking many addicted people develop in the greater society often leading them to make poor if not harmful choices. And yet time and again, I see law enforcement personnel fall into that same trap. If you look at officers who end up in legal or marital trouble, you often don’t have to look very hard to discover they might just share in this black and white, cynical, doomsday kind of thinking. Indeed, departments that tend to have scandals and corruption often share this trait among its employees.
Cops are humans, and much like those addicts, we have a choice to be healthy or not. It is not always easy, but it always remains possible. We need to strive to see ourselves and our world as it really is. It isn’t all unicorns and rainbows, nor is it all dark and dangerous. A healthy worldview, I would suggest, is in the middle someplace…and as humans, we might find ourselves on a sliding continuum of sorts based on our resiliency factors, liabilities and context. I also want to suggest there is no one, linear model reflecting all officers’ experiences. Everyone is different, and conditions and healthy practices may change causing us to switch directions suddenly or over time.
So, we might seem to bounce from one phase to another dramatically, or we might find that we have the means to stay relatively balanced toward the center of the scale. In the best case scenario, we will have the resiliency factors – including support networks in and outside of policing – to help maintain what people might label a more positive (if not healthy) well-rounded attitude about life. In general, though, I find four basic points on that sliding scale. I’ve identified them based on my personal experience in my own life as an officer and afterward, plus research, as well as study of what I consider scripture. I call these points: idealist – skeptic – cynic – scoffer or fool.(1)
When I bring up the idealist, I’m thinking a lot about my first shift, my first arrest, and the many positive men and women who helped me have a great (if relatively short) law enforcement career. Many people go into policing because they want to help people. Perhaps they have suffered or faced injustices themselves, and so they now want to protect others from the same fate. None of that is bad in and of itself, but soon the real-world breaks in. Our sense of call is going to be challenged by people and events we encounter. We were idealistic and perhaps a bit naïve when we started, but now we begin to wonder: “Why don’t people like me? Why won’t they respect me? I’m here to help.” Yet, after a few weeks or less, we discover the truth. The world is a complicated place. It is not easily controllable, and the line between evil and good can easily become blurred. On top of that, you might start to suspect you can’t easily trust anyone. You can arrive on a scene to help someone who is injured and be met by insults, rocks and bottles, or worse. Day after day, facing people who might deceive you – in order to hurt you or others – well, that can wear you down. It can begin to defeat that idealism and transform it into something else for good or ill.
I would suggest that a healthy skepticism is an answer to this conundrum. Most faith traditions – Christian or not – understand we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. In my tradition, Martin Luther used to talk about people being “bent inwards upon themselves.” We all tend to be selfish or at least struggle with selfishness. If you are a member of the Abrahamic faith traditions – Jewish, Christian, or Islamic – we often talk about this as a fallen world. And so, as a person in a fallen world, I recognize that even people who love me might fail me at times, just as I might fail them. We are only human after all. We can do everything right, but raindrops and sunlight fall on the just and unjust alike. Bad things can happen to good people. It is a dangerous world, and some people echo that danger in the choices they make…but other choices are possible. Some people can be trusted. Some people will even actually do their best to try to love you. And so being a healthy skeptic, like a scientist, we observe and test. We don’t have to trust people suddenly or blindly, even as we can hope for the best. We can take proper safety precautions and be ready for things to break bad, but we don’t have to be on – hyper alert – at all times…in every place and social situation. We can still sit facing the doorways at restaurants. We can be aware of people keep their hands. We can keep proper distances from people as we talk to them. We can even ask for backup…but we don’t have to assume everyone is evil. A healthy skeptic in my construct is a person that knows evil exists in the world, but they aren’t themselves consumed by it or the fear of such evil. They know and trust good exists in the world. That goodness can even start within their own life.
Another stop on this sliding continuum is the cynic. Some people suggest cynicism promotes safety.(2) Yet again, I would identify for our purposes that a healthy skepticism and cynicism is not the same thing. We are talking of modern cynicism, not the Greco-Roman philosophical approach. An online article in Psychology today explains this pretty well: “’Cynicism’ acquired its modern meaning in the course of the 18th and early 19th centuries, stripping Ancient Cynicism of most of its tenets and retaining only the Cynic propensity to puncture people’s pretensions. Today, cynicism refers to doubt or disbelief in the professed motives, sincerity, and goodness of others, and, by extension, in social and ethical norms and values. This attitude is often accompanied by mistrust, scorn, and pessimism about others and humanity as a whole.” Did you catch that? The modern cynic is a doubter if not a downer to an extreme. They tend not to trust anyone, and as a result they often think the worst of everyone. They often feel like victims. And so, the risk here becomes beginning to rationalize one’s own cutting of moral and ethical corners. “Everyone else does it, so why not you?” You, the listener, might feel like life is like that for you at times. I did at one time, but in the end, I discovered that it left me bitter and self-isolated…suffering needlessly…prone to making choices not helping but hurting myself and others.
Such bad choices, perhaps originally meant to protect us, can do harm in subtle ways at first, but trust me, they can prove to be cumulative. I’ve got stories that I will probably later share, but research bears this view out. The world is not all bad even as it might be fallen and dangerous. Being on the defensive from all harm will likely leave a person bitter, alone, and perhaps addicted to unhealthy relationships, alcohol, gambling, or who knows what else over time. Cynicism can put one at risk of depression, if not suicidal ideation. It can impact blood pressure and other areas of one’s health if we don’t somehow get a grip…and what we need to grip onto might just be another imperfect but loving human’s hand.
The last group on my scale is the scoffer or fool. I’m using some Biblical language here from my Judeo-Christian tradition, so let me try to explain. In the Hebrew scriptures, a righteous person was a person who tried to live in the ways of God…they sought to follow God’s laws and precepts because they trust that, although the road can be hard, it is the right road for them. These are the decision points needing to be made, based on loving morals and ethics, that will (we believe) lead to happiness no matter what others might say. In fact, even as things might prove tough, this person believes one will find joy on the journey in doing the right thing and in pleasing one’s understanding of God, one’s higher power. Or, one might even dare say we find joy in just fulfilling the law of love no matter what consequences might result.
This construct I am suggesting need not be solely a Judeo-Christian one. In my work among Native populations, as they use their own religious beliefs, I heard people speak of following the Red Road, a road of traditional, loving, spiritual, communal, and practical practices and choices, to free themselves from addiction. Most faith traditions and philosophical paradigms try to help people orient toward what is deemed good – often loving others as oneself. Yet, in the Bible scoffers and fools choose another way. They make themselves the god of their destiny regardless of how many times their choices fail them, or no matter who else gets hurt. And if you are silly enough to want to love others in your choices? Well, they say YOU are the fool.
Now, we all can struggle at times with any of these points on the scale. There might be a constant sliding as we mature, or we might have experienced a point on this scale during a prolonged period of our lives before moving into another. Yet for the moment, let’s consider those who might find themselves acting similarly to a scoffer or fool – at least at the moment they face difficulty.
There’s a prophet recognized in the Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions name Habakkuk (also pronounced Hab-a-cook by some). We don’t know a great deal about him, but as he was called to represent God amidst a foolish people….people rejecting a life of love (as I just described…he struggled. In the face of a community being torn apart by selfishness and division, also amidst the threat of imminent invasion by Babylon, and as he himself was condemned for trying to live in hope…Habakkuk questioned God. In Habakkuk Ch. 1, verses 2-5 of the Hebrew scriptures, it reads:
“O Lord, how long shall I cry; And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment [God’s unfair judgement in Habakkuk’s eyes] proceeds.”
Then, the Lord replies:
“Look among the nations and watch — Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”
In short, much like the best friends of God like Habakkuk, a prophet, or even those who look for a healthier road, or those who have any kind of spiritual, positive faith…we all can struggle with doubt at times. Yet then, let’s compare the scoffer, the fool, who is drowning in their doubt and accusation. For them, there is no hope. All is lost. All is bad…except what they deem is good for them. An internet, bible resource called Got Questions, explains it this way:
“The word translated ‘scoffer’ in English can mean ‘one who mocks, ridicules, or scorns the belief ofanother.’ In Hebrew, the word translated ‘scoffer’ or ‘mocker’ can also mean ‘ambassador.’ So, a scoffer is one who not only disagrees with an idea, but he also considers himself an ambassador for the opposing idea. He cannot rest until he has demonstrated the foolishness of any idea not his own. A scoffer voices his disagreement, ridicules all who stand against him, and actively recruits others to join his side. In the Bible, scoffers are those who choose to disbelieve God and His Word. They say in their hearts, ‘There is no God’ (Psalm 14:1), and make it their ambition to ridicule those who follow God.”
For our purposes, a true scoffer or fool is one who tends to ridicule — if not hate —those who they deem are against them…often anyone, no matter a person of faith or not, who dares believe goodness can exist in the world and dares to desire to act like it. Unfortunately, I’ve run into too many of these within the law enforcement community. If an officer or other first responder, I expect you can think of a few candidates too.(3)
Yet with all that said, not even the scoffer or fool need remain stuck. No matter who we are or what period of life we might be going through, wherever we might be on the scale, help remains always available. When I ran into trouble as a cop a few years in, other more senior and mature officers including some in the administration noticed something was up, and they tried to help and encourage me. They pointed me to resources and acted as my friend. These officers actually helped me become who I am today, although nothing so grand was their intention. Yet they did help, so I always give God thanks for them and my experiences. (And now, that experience is a big part of why I volunteer as a police chaplain today – to try to love as I have been loved, and pass that same hope on to others.)
So, I encourage officers – anyone really – to use the signs of grace around them. If you had a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual tool kit, what tools might be available to you? What might help you? Who might help you? Would counseling, a mentor, or a spiritual director be a resources? Could exercise or prescribed medication be the missing piece or part in need of attention if not repair? Could visiting with old friends or family – not just your law enforcement family – or volunteering among hopeful people be able to help you see beyond your police experience? (An experience where we often face a disproportionate amount of evil and suffering.) There’s a wide variety or methodologies out there as well as people available through your Employee Assistance Program, Wellness Team, chaplains, local faith communities, and among family and friends. These people are out there ready to help you and support you in becoming and staying at your best.
And if you try something and it isn’t a great fit? Try something else or reach out to another expert in the field, or in the community of faith, or a friend – whatever you like. Options always exist, and you need not ever get stuck. People do want to love and support you in this very difficult profession. That’s why I am here, and why I’ve made this podcast. If this podcast were only to help you and no one else, for me, that would be well worth all my time and effort. You are worth it, and what you do in service matters.
Endnotes:
(1) In calling someone a scoffer or fool in this construct, I suggest that this condition might be due to unhealthy thinking or choices over time. I am not referring to actual intelligence.
(2) I plan to address cynicism and safety in more detail in a later post and podcast. In my construct, a healthy skeptism is superior to cynacism. A healthy skeptic is not naive to danger and acts according to best practices of safety training, always alert to the possibilty of danger and ready to respond as trained. If danger comes, they tend to be less stressed, healthier and thus better able to identify their options and respond appropriately. They tend to act according to their training and circumstance rather than emotionally react. Feeling doubt and extreme suspicion about all humanity, as well as being prone to negative interpretations of their circumstances, a cynic might over anticipate if not be obsessessed by the possibility of resistance or violence. Not only can such attitudes impact personal health, they can create risk for becoming stuck in one’s alert state. Also troubling, some research has suggested that such a person might at times overcompensate with unnecessarily aggressive tactics and use of force. As you will often hear me say, healthier, better adjusted officers tend to perform better in their duties and offend less.
(3) The scoffer (or fool) in this construct is not necessarily without worldly knowledge or wisdom, but they are likely wounded by their experience in the world if not suffering from signs of burn out. They tend to be cynical and self-protective to an extreme. Thus, they can make poor decisions interacting with citizens or in use of force. Again, healthy officers are shown to tend to be better, more oositive and productive officers. They tend to be less likely to make bad decisions or offend.
Along with my past advanced degrees studies and continued education, my direct references contained in this episode included:
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast, we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
A new episode is now available! Before digging deeper into topics related to law enforcement, Chaplain Lou helps unpack the history and purpose of modern law enforcment chaplaincy. For best practices, he encourages you to check out the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) at icpc4cops.org. Join in the conversation at anchor.fm or these apps: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts. Chaplain Lou currently serves as Vice Chair (for Training) of the Hanover County Sherriff’s Office Chaplains Board (2008 – present) and as the City of Fredericksburg Police Department’s Chaplain (2019 – present).
Chaplain Lou is thankful to be a credentialed member of ICPC, but please remember all comments on this blog or podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of ICPC or its membership.
Text from the recent podcast:
Welcome back, everyone. Thanks for joining today’s discussion at Midnights L-E-O.
As we begin, I am sure some people might wonder what a chaplain like me is doing in a place like this…and by that, I mean among modern law enforcement. Well, that’s an excellent question, and an important one to address before we go any further I suppose. To put it mildly (paraphrasing Radar O’Reilly on that old show, MASH), I often run into cops, identify myself for the first time as a chaplain, and they seem to wonder, “What in the h-e-double toothpicks do we need a chaplain for?” (They might think other words, but you get the idea. I am being kind.)
I thought that question – a very real and excellent question – would be a great topic for our second episode. After all, why would you go to a chaplain or utilize a chaplain in your work if you don’t know what one is or could do. Now, you likely know that the use of chaplains for hospitals, military units, and even aristocratic families dates back easily to the early middle ages, but I would suggest we look even further back.
Consider indigenous populations or look in the ancient Hebrew scriptures or other such texts. It seems it has not been unusual for some kind of faith leader to accompany, pray for, and perhaps advise leaders as they start their governance, go to war or make weighty decisions. Indeed, in more recent times, many people are surprised to learn that Chief Sitting Bull was a shaman or medicine man…a spiritual leader…who as their Lakota tradition and practice allowed….was called forward to become a wartime leader. Perhaps because governance and warfare can have a spiritual dynamic, or moral and ethical issues remain so interwoven into those activities, cultures through today often find it helpful to have what we now know as chaplains to be present amidst the secular leaders.
Take for example the akicita societies of the Lakota. As warrior societies, they were also the ones who helped enforce the laws and cultural observances of the tribal community. Membership involved elements of being called by the people and the Great Spirit. It was a vocation or sacred call. Ritual was offered through the initiation ceremonies and beyond, because the spiritual and secular (as we call them today) overlapped and had no firm boundaries as they understood the world.
And with their special role, if someone selfishly went out too early to hunt buffalo for their own benefit (thus scaring them away and risking starvation for the tribe), or perhaps someone was being removed from the community, the tribal relationship, due to a crime, it was the warrior society that would often enforce the desired actions of the leadership. Those sacred societies were warriors, watchmen, de facto law enforcement, and more, but recognizing the moral injury that could result from such actions and the need for an upright spirit, there was always the recognition of the spiritual needs of their membership.
When eventually modern policing came to be…in 1829 under Robert Peele….you might recall that they came to be known affectionally as the Bobbies…they weren’t always welcomed at first. Indeed, there were so many deadly attacks on police officers, they quickly added a leather piece near the neckline of the uniforn because officer’s were being garroted with thin wires from behind. Like today, they faced personal danger, but they also were exposed to the suffering of others and life and death decisions. On top of that, officers died or became disabled, and their families struggled as a result. So, in 1842, the first chaplaincy for law enforcement came to be…it was called the London City mission. Initially, the focus was supporting officers and their families…sometimes sadly their widows and orphans…in concrete ways. Yet, spiritual support in this context was soon identified as a growing need. So in time, you found modern chaplains assisting in many more ways than first imagined in the 1800s – sometimes these are practical efforts, and sometimes spiritual, but hopefully always support offered out of love for the officers, their families and our greater community. Modern chaplains may or may not be ordained, but hopefully they have training of some sort in spiritual counseling and chaplaincy in general.
Now, when I say spiritual, it need not be Christian spirituality. There are Rabbis who serve, imams who serve, and even humanist chaplains who serve more from a philosophical rather than a religious context. In a good chaplaincy program, chaplains hopefully represent their community or at the very least have the training and willingness to meet people where they are. Their religious background is not as critical as their willingness not to evangelize or cajole, but rather help connect people to resources – practical and spiritual – that they need…to be a concrete, non-anxious presence offering care. Yet if the person wants to talk about spiritual things or have prayer? Well, that’s ok too. Chaplains can do that.
Thus, these chaplains, at least the better ones, are going to be prepared to counsel law enforcement officers and their families as requested. They might visit sick and injured officers to help lift morale. They can assist at sudden deaths or scenes likely to cause trauma. They might help supplement support systems of a department by being part of the peer support team, wellness team, critical incident stress debriefing teams, and similar such things. Chaplains could teach classes on subjects like stress or communication techniques in the home and touch upon spiritual practices as they do so – those spiritual practices can be as simple and nocuous as walking in nature and mindfulness techniques, or one might pull from Buddhism or other spiritual traditions – just to expose people to varied options they might like to later explore in a way that might hopefully enrich their lives….and perhaps heal relationships. In time of day-to-day operations or civil unrest or crisis, chaplains can become a great bridge to faith communities to help calm things down or get resources committed through those faith organizations – This could mean volunteers, food, clothing or whatever.
In some places, chaplains can even serve on review boards for promotions or discipline – helping to evaluate the mental, emotional, and spiritual context of the people and matters at hand. And of course, they want to be among those they serve, so you can often find them on riedlongs answering calls for service with officers – getting to know officers and the people served, and supporting them as needed.
Thus, law enforcement chaplains are very much like secular counselors, but like military chaplains, they hopefully add a faith dynamic into the discussion and care. Chaplains can do a whole lot more than saying non-sectarian prayers at graduations and or presiding at funerals. Through non-anxious presence, they hopefully support all members of the police and greater community …helping them become more resilient and healthier.
So, that is a quick explanation of what chaplains might do, but it can vary greatly based on agency policy, needs, and context. If you would like to learn more, I suggest you take a look at the nonprofit that I maintain my credentials with – the International Conference of Police Chaplains or ICPC. You can find them at icpc4 cops.org.
That’s it for this episode. Stay safe, do some good, and I hope to see you again soon.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations for this post are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE/PODCAST DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
Although I have served or do serve as a spiritual counselor, a chaplain, and/or ordained minister, I am not your counselor nor a medical professional. All content on this website and podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical, psychological, or spiritual advice, and does not establish any kind of patient-client or pastor-congregant relationship. Although on this website and podcast, we strive to provide accurate general information, the information found through these posts are not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this content. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any professional, legal, medical, financial or tax-related decisions. Opinions expressed by the host or guests do not necessarily reflect those of any other person or entity.
Midnights LEO 