The City of Valdosta has announced a new voluntary program intended to provide ministerial services, upon request, to members of the Valdosta Police Department, their immediate family members and citizens in times of injury, illness and the death of loved ones. The Police Chaplain Program provides a liaison and a lasting partnership between the department, area congregations and citizens, and it creates a unique VPD resource that did not previously exist.
 
“We are fortunate to have a police department with a positive presence in our community and a successful track record of reaching across barriers to reduce crime, to educate and reinforce safety messages in a diverse community, and to produce an award-winning law enforcement agency of which we can all be proud,” said Mayor John Gayle. “The Police Chaplain Program will provide additional opportunities to strengthen the relationship between the citizens of this great community and those who would lay down their lives to serve it.”
 
The chaplains will be available on a 24-hour call basis to perform duties such as council individuals in response to stress of family crisis, sickness or injury, offer prayers and to assist in any crisis situation where the presence of a trained chaplain might help.  The chaplains will also advise the Chief of Police in all matters of religious nature involving the police department and the performance of law enforcement duties in the community and act as a liaison with local ministerial associations and in matters pertaining to the moral, spiritual and religious welfare of police personnel.
 
“We have selected chaplains from our community who represent different denominations in our community and who have had previous close ties with the Valdosta Police Department,” said Chief of Police Brian Childress. “These chaplains will serve alongside us as we serve the citizens of our community during some of the most difficult times they will face. The chaplains will not replace an individual’s spiritual counselor, but instead will serve as an additional resource for citizens in times of need.”
 
Currently, the following five local chaplains serve the community through the program, which may be expanded to a total of eight chaplains in the future.
 
Chaplain Winston Taylor, Grace Fellowship Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Chaplain William Morgan, Morningstar Baptist Church
Chaplain Wayne Robertson, Morningside Baptist Church
Chaplain Ronnie Mathis, Crossing Jordan Baptist Church
Chaplain Darren Neal, Greater St. Peter Methodist Church
 
VPD Chaplains will undergo training on VPD rules and regulations, auxiliaries, code of conduct and public information and will attend annual VPD employee-in-service training on critical tasks.  All VPD Chaplains will also be required to obtain certification as a Police Chaplain through the International Conference of Police Chaplains within one year of being selected to serve.
 
Chaplain Winston Taylor who already attended the 32-hour certification course in Toccoa, Ga., in summer 2015 and is now a Certified Law Enforcement Chaplain said, “The duties we perform in our voluntary role with the Valdosta Police Department are a reflection of the services we already perform as ministers.  It is an additionally honor and privilege, however, to be selected to serve alongside our city’s finest men and women in uniform and to be called upon to assist in serving the greater Valdosta community.”