What is a Police Chaplain? A chaplain is first and foremost, a Ministry of Presence – providing physical, spiritual, and emotional presence through empathetic listening. A Chaplain is there to help in times of crisis and distress. A Chaplain’s role is to provide emotional and spiritual guidance and comfort; to build rapport, and foster relationships. Chaplains work collaboratively with other agencies to support mental health and wellness. Chaplains also provide bereavement support to agency personnel and community members. To that end, Chaplains serve as ambassadors between the community and the police department.
The Decatur Police Department currently has four Chaplains that are drawn from churches of varying denominations. The Chaplains are part of a committee that consists of sworn officers who work together to address the varying needs of the agency.
Current DPD Chaplains:
Pastor Rob Goodwin, Senior Pastor, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Decatur, IL
Chaplain Sam Baum, REZ Life Church, Decatur, IL
Pastor Eric Ginder, Senior Pastor, New Life Tabernacle, Macon, IL
Reverend Janice Gavin, REZ Life Church, Decatur, IL
Either email Deputy Chief Brad Allen or call (217) 424-2740.
