5-504 - MPD Community Chaplain Program

1. The MPD Community Chaplain Program consists of Minneapolis clergy and faith community leaders, representing a variety of cultures and faith traditions. Their mission is to provide spiritual care and support services to members of the Minneapolis Police Department and to the citizens of Minneapolis in their times of need.
2. The positive relationships established through quality spiritual care relationships, create opportunities for building strong connections between the Minneapolis Police Department and the citizens of Minneapolis. These positive police/community connections are valuable components of: a healthy police department, healthy communities and ultimately a strong and healthy Minneapolis.

MPD Chaplains utilize an inter-faith ministry of presence, service and relationships to carry out their critical mission. As representatives of the Minneapolis Police Department and of the faith communities they have been called to lead, MPD Chaplains will carry out their duties to the highest standards of professionalism (See ICPC Canon of Ethics for Law Enforcement Chaplains).

MPD Chaplain Spiritual Care and Support Responsibilities

1. Chaplains provide proactive spiritual care by being present with police personnel and community members in times of calm and in everyday, routine activities. This presence creates opportunities to build strong personal relationships with individuals within their personal context of community. Examples of these activities include, but are not limited to:

• Precinct Roll Call
• Chaplain Precinct Time
• Officer Ride-Alongs
• Department Meetings
• Department Ceremonies
• Neighborhood Meetings
• Community Events
• Community Celebrations
• Community Outreach Activities

2. Chaplains provide reactive spiritual care by responding to critical incidents with MPD staff (in a support role) and providing care services to those who are suffering and in need. Examples of these activities include, but are not limited to:

• Death/critical injury scene response
• Death Notifications at the direction of the MPD Chaplain Coordinator (07/22/16)
• Faith Community call response
• Major crime scene response
• Traumatized victim response
• Personal care/support of MPD staff
• Any situation where a Chaplain’s calm and non-anxious presence would be helpful

MPD Chaplain Program Supervision and Direction

1. The MPD Community Chaplain Program is overseen by the Assistant Chief, who may assign supervision and direction to an MPD Commander or other designee.
2. Community Chaplain Program operations will be directed by the MPD Chaplain Coordinator. (07/22/16)
3. Individual Chaplain supervision and direction will be assigned to Precinct Inspectors and Inspector designees.