2020-05-27 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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eptember 2019 marked my eighth year of volunteer service as a Centennial Lakes Police Chaplain. Serving in this capacity has blessed me beyond measure and has proved most rewarding walking alongside of the wonderful officers and staff of the department. Their commitment and dedication to the citizens of Centerville, Circle Pines, and Lexington is praiseworthy. Meeting and riding with officers and checking in on staff numerous times throughout the year allows me to experience first- and . Another aspect of my duties as chaplain encompasses assisting officers with calls at traumatic events including those involving loss of life. Thirteen times during the year chaplain assistance was requested. Eleven times by Centennial Lakes officers and twice by the Anoka Co Dispatch Center to assist Blaine and Lino Lakes officers on chaplain call outs as none of their chaplains were Chaplain available to assist. Centennial Fire Chaplain Rev. Patricia Clearence handled three of the Joel Heckman Centennial Lakes Police call outs while I was on vacation or in training. pril every other year just prior to prom for the junior and senior class. The program consists of a mock crash scene followed up by an assembly presentation the next day to bring home to the students the importance of not drinking, doing drugs and/or texting while driving. At the departmental meeting held during July, I was honored to present information to the officers and departmental staff on the Anoka County free food pickup locations, dinners, and medical assistance available from area churches and government agencies. Monthly calendars are posted in the squad room for the officers in the event that during their tour of duty they happen to come across a family or individual needing assistance, they can direct them to the church or agency available that day that can help them. A heartfelt thank you to the management team for again allowing me to attend the International Conference of Police Chaplains! This year the Region Three Training Seminar was held at the Burleigh Morton Detention Center in Bismarck ND. You may recall this area (Burleigh and Morton ND counties) was the location of the ND pipeline protests and standoffs. Part of our training included how that major event impacted all law enforcement personnel, their families and the entire community. Safety and mental health issues were especially at the forefront for the families of the law enforcement community as the news media chose to -up afterwards. An excellent presentation along with great insights from officers and chaplains involved. Additional highlight of the training seminar was a presentation by the former police chief of Bismarck ND and an ex-criminal. The two had become good friends after the criminal was released from prison and turned his life of criminal activity and addiction around. I was able to bring co- An Unlikely Friendship - back to the department to share with the officers for their encouragement. It is not very often officers are thanked later by the ones they have arrested but this real-life story t in . I pray for continued wisdom, guidance, protection and strength for each one of them. Further, I ask God for the personal strength, peace, wisdom and humility needed for my ministry of Presence, Service and Relationships to the Centennial Lakes Communities, their officers and citizens, meeting them where they are in life. Respectfully, 14