We want to inform our supporters and others on what the chaplains have done on behalf of the best employees in Spokane. We want to thank all of you who have supported the Chaplaincy with both your prayers and finances. We know that you do so for the benefit of your fellow workers. To say it is an honor to serve and know each of you would be an understatement. I feel that often times you are my own family and thus I keep each of you and your family in my prayers daily. I have the opportunity and privilege to celebrate when you have celebrated, and to weep when you have suffered loss. So again thank you all and may 2008 be a year of great blessings to all of you.

 To view the entire 2007 SPD Chaplaincy Annual Report in PDF format click here.

SENIOR CHAPLAIN - Ron Alter
Chaplain Ron is starting his twelfth year as the chaplaincy’s senior chaplain. Chaplain Ron still finds the work exciting and rewarding. Every employee is like a part of his family, and he prays for them daily. Chaplain Ron tries to ride with the patrol officers twice a week. Thru ride-alongs and other contacts with our department’s employees, Chaplain Ron makes himself available when needed.

CHAPLAIN - Beth Wilson
Chaplain Beth has come back after a two and half year leave of absence. It is great that she is back, and she is excited to be here. Starting the first of 2008, the chaplain’s board has put Beth on full-time in order to provide better care of our officers.

CHAPLAIN - Vernon Buckley
One of the most recognized faces around the department is that of Chaplain Vernon Buckley. Vernon spends his time with meeting and greeting the employees and volunteers that work in the Public Safety & Monroe Court Buildings. Vernon has also served the department for the last 14 years, and is faithful at making his trips around to greet the employees. Vernon volunteered 282 hours last year.

CHAPLAIN - Gene Tracy
Father Tracy has been on the Chaplain Board, and served as a volunteer chaplain for the last nine years. His service has been valued both on and off the board. Father Tracy has a background as a CPA and does the bookkeeping for our program. He is also a great teacher, and has done a lot to instruct us on Catholic traditions and beliefs. Father Tracy volunteered 225 hours this year.

CHAPLAIN - Denny Klaja
Denny started about five years ago. Denny has an infectious smile and is always doing little things to show he really has a heart for law enforcement. Denny pastors a church out in the valley when he is not serving as a chaplain. Denny also volunteers to cover for other chaplains many times. He has become the corner post for our volunteer chaplains. Chaplain Denny volunteered a total of 317 hours.

CHAPLAIN - Mike Erickson Chaplain Erickson has volunteered the last two years. He is the Senior Pastor at Driscoll Baptist Church. Mike is really eager to serve the department personnel and is taking training to learn all that he can.

CHAPLAIN - Debbie Junes
Chaplain Junes has been selected as the Chaplain of the Year for her dedication to our officers. Earlier in the year, it appeared that Debbie was dying of heart failure, but the Lord wasn’t ready for her. She rallied and came back to serve once again. WHAT A TROOPER!!!

CHAPLAIN - Rustin Rathbun Rustin comes to us from the Asotin County Sheriff’s Department, where he served as their chaplain. He has been very busy, but is always willing to come out on calls. I have never seen enjoy life and going out on calls like Rustin. Rustin has served as a pastor but now manages a mobile home park with his wife.

CHAPLAIN - Christina Silver
Ever wonder who takes calls on Sundays while the pastor’s are working? We have two brave souls that have volunteered to take those calls. Chaplain Silver has been with us for two years, giving of herself. Christina has just gotten back from intensive training as an EMT and is looking for work in that field. Don’t let her youthful appearance fool you. She has done wonders at some pretty gruesome calls.

CHAPLAIN - Dan Smith
Doesn’t he look strangely like the Dan who supplies our cars? That’s because he is the same. Dan has also been serving as a Sunday chaplain with Christina Silver. Dan is a very compassionate man and has made an excellent chaplain. Our plans for Dan in 2008 is to send him to the National Chaplain’s conference in July.

CHAPLAIN - James Peak
The Chaplain is a Father. Father James Peak is a Major in the U.S. Army. He has just been ordained a Catholic priest and is serving at the St. Thomas Moore Parish on the north side of Spokane. Chaplain Peak came on board in October and is a welcome addition.

One new chaplain that we have no picture of yet is John Solomon. John is a pastor of a Seventh Day Adventist Church on the South Hill. He is still in training, but I am looking forward to getting to know him.

All of our volunteers have spent many hours getting awaken at all times of night, and going out to help our officers. We so appreciate their giving of the time and talents needed to do this work!

This years activities have been many and varied. The chaplains have volunteered well over five thousand hours in 2007. We responded to over 400 DOA’s, in order to help our officers with this difficult task. Deaths will take their toll on officers and so we try to help alleviate the stress by working with families and notifying the next of kin.

LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY BECAUSE OF CHAPLAINS
The Law Suit is over, and we are still here doing the same things in the same way. There was much-to-do about nothing when it was reported that we could not have a cross on our patch. We still have the crosses on our lapels and still do our work the same way as we have always done it. We do not discriminate against anyone nor have we ever. We treat everyone with the dignity and respect we would want ourselves in similar positions.

STANDOFF We responded to numerous standoffs this past year with the Aid Van: even one for the county. We have enjoyed providing food and drink to those involved. We are constantly striving to make the Aid Van better and hope in the year to come, we can provide more comfort to our officers.

TEACHING
Chaplain Alter has been teaching at several different classes this year. He has taught two or three time at the academy to the limited commission classes on the topic of ethics. I have also been asked to teach classes on Critical Incident Stress in several venues. FAMILY

PROFILE REPORTS
The chaplains office worked with Tammie Fausti and others to finally get a Family Profile Form made up for Law Enforcement Families to fill out. The first portion of that profile, which lists information in case of injury or death, Is being held locked in the chaplains office and will only be opened if an accident occurs. The other portion will be filled out by the families and kept by them in a secure place. Our goal is to make these available to our civilian employees next.

FUNERAL PROTOCOL Chaplain Alter has been working with Chief Nicks, the PAT team and the Honor Guard to update our funeral protocol. We are almost completed with the assignment.

NATIONAL DISASTER TEAM
Chaplain Alter is part of a national disaster response committee that will dispatch chaplains where and when needed. This team will work through the International Conference of Police Chaplains. The first time the team was use was during 9/11. Since that time it has been called several other times to air crashes and the hurricanes down south.

GREATER SPOKANE SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSEL
Chaplain Alter served on the board of this local organization. As a member of the board, I attended meetings once a month and help advise on the counsel’s work.

MINISTERIAL SERVICES Chaplain Alter officiated at three weddings this year and several funerals. It is an honor to be able to share in both the joy and sorrow of these families. We also have the joy of giving quilts to new born children of our employees. I usually get to hold the babies, which makes my wife jealous.

TRAINING
Chaplains Alter and Klaja attended a week long Critical Incident Stress Debriefing in order to help serve our officers better. The debriefing was helpful and informative and I am looking forward to providing this service to officers who struggle with critical incidents they have been on.

SEMINARS
Because of the need to develop a holistic approach to our officers and other employees, we believe it is necessary to aid them and their families in developing strong, healthy and positive tools for better living. We will, therefore, hold the following seminars. 
Goal 1 -  Hold a Spouses Academy in February for the spouses and family members of our officers.
Objectives -

•  Reserve Academy space in January.
•  Begin to promote the event to spouses 30 days prior to the event.
•  Re-promote through flyers to the officers 15 days prior to the event.
•  Hold event on a Friday evening and all day Saturday.
•  Approximate costs to Chaplains: $500

TRAINING
In order to better equip our chaplains and thereby making our program more professional and responsive to the needs of our department and community, we will provide the following training opportunities.
Goal 1 - Provide our chaplains the opportunity to attend the International Conference Of Police Chaplains regional conference held in Canon Beach, Oregon in January.
Objectives -

•  Give advanced notice in December.
•  Get literature in their hands.
•  Pay for their entrance.
•  Estimated Cost to the chaplaincy: $600.

Goal 2 - Provide training for the chaplains once a month with challenging and new material.
Objectives -

• Work with county chaplains and other agency chaplains to provide innovative training.
• Hold several day long training events.

DEPARTMENTAL DUTIES
There are several duties for the department that have been traditional for the chaplains to fulfill. In addition, we want to add one more:
Goal 1 - Chaplain’s Ron & Beth will be an active part of the department’s P.A.T. team.
Objectives -

• Attend the quarterly training meetings.
• Help set up and participate in any debriefings
• Provide defusing opportunities for employees when needed.

Goal 2 - Maintain and encourage new employees to fill out the family pacs.
Objectives -

• Raise funding and print up new packs
• Attend post-academy training and roll calls to inform new officers of the need to fill the packages out.

Goal 3 - Help train at the academy when requested.
Objectives -

• Present class about Chaplain services to the post-academy when asked.
• Conduct classes on other subjects when requested.

Goal 4 -  Provide water, coffee and other aid to officers during critical incidents.
Objectives -

•  Furnish the Aid Van with ability to hold coffee, hot water and cold water, protective tent, heater, fan & chairs.
•  During a critical incident, which may be three or four hours in duration, the Aid Van will respond with either cold water during warm weather or hot liquids during cold weather. A tent or cover can be provided to protect from sun or wind.
•  Use this area, when needed to do de-fusings. GOAL 5: Continue the program where the chaplain will be the back up person at DOA’s, thereby freeing up officers for other duties. This is in light of the reduced number of officers on the street.

FINANCIAL GOALS
In order to carry out the quality type programs we need to care for the employees of SPD, it is necessary to raise funding. Besides the yearly support we receive, we will do the following:
Goal 1 - Develop other resources of funding in order to finance the chaplain’s program.
Objectives -  

• Solicit “Corporate Sponsors” from the business community to help fund chaplain’s program.
• Have chaplains go to businesses and help solicit funding. RIDE-ALONGS: In order to provide accessibility to patrol officers, Chaplain Ron will complete 2.0 ride-alongs per week, and Chaplain Wilson will complete 2.0 ride-alongs per month.