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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 06.kJune 26, 2013 Item No. The Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Program Proposed Action Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to adopt the policy for the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Program as presented Passage of this motion will result in adoption of a policy establishing a new Police And Fire Chaplaincy Program. Overview As discussed at the June 24` work session this policy will create a new structure for the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Program. This change will also result in the non - renewal of the previous contract with "Lakeville Police Chaplain Services ", the non - profit that we were contracting through. The most recent contract expired on February 16, 2013. Primary Issues to Consider Supporting Information • Memo dated June 19, 2013 for the June 24, 2013 council work session. • Policy addressing the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Program. I� Patrol C ptain If more than a sentence or two needed to explain the financial Financial Impact: $1,000 per year Budgeted: Y/N Y Source: Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): Notes: ..Lakeville To: Lakeville City Council From: Captain Knutson Copy: Chief Vonhof Chief Meyer City Administrator Mielke Date: June 19, 2013 Subject: Chaplain Program Changes City of Lakeville Police Department Attached you will find a document proposing changes to the Police Chaplaincy program. Over tl ^.e past 6 years PJe have con'SaeLed PJit11 an independent Contr aety ^r�eon�Uit$nt to pruvlde OAT Chaplaincy services. 2013 marks the contract renewal year for this contract and as part of the preparation for the renewal, we put out a survey to our employees asking several questions about the services we currently have and what if anything could enhance those services. The survey response included over half of our department members and showed that there could be some areas of improvement. We also examined neighboring agency Chaplaincy programs to compare the services provided with our own. We discovered that our Chaplaincy program is providing many services well, but does have some room for improvement. First, our program has always been just Police related and it has been shown that the Fire department, as well as the rest of the city employees could benefit from a program that encompasses them as well. Also, we currently only have one Chaplain in our agency, and the survey shows that there is a desire to have additional Chaplains to choose from, both in the number and the religious affiliation. In looking at other agencies in our area, both larger and smaller, we have found that the size of the Chaplain Corp ranges from 6 to 12 Chaplains, covering almost every affiliation in the community, especially those that the majority of the employees are affiliated with. The attached program proposal addresses the concerns identified. We propose to return the program in -house like it was several years ago before we contracted out to a consultant. It would operate similarly to our volunteer Police Reserve Unit. Our current Chaplain, Mark Bellows, has been with us for over 20 years and does a great job for our agency. As part of the change we would propose to keep Mark as our Chaplain Director and have him help us build the program into a larger more diverse program. Mark would lead 6 additional Associate Chaplains, from different faiths, who would serve the needs of not only the Police Department, but also the Fire Department and all other employees in the city should a crisis event occur. All Chaplain positions would be volunteer, and no contract would be needed. Chaplain Bellows has been in on the discussions about the program change and is excited about moving the program forward. CHAPLAINCY FOR THE LAKEVILLE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS I. Mission Statement The mission of the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy is to provide support services to all city employees and citizens in crisis experiences, in partnership with representatives of the Lakeville area clergy. This mission shall be internal and external in scope. A. The internal mission of the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy is to provide professional guidance to the leaders of the Police and Fire Departments and their membership; to conduct crisis intervention counseling; to promote the spiritual, corporate and personal well -being of the department; and to be a force for positive relationships within the departments. B. The external mission of the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy is to offer counseling, spiritual guidance and assistance to persons confronted with crisis experiences; to serve as instruments of reconciliation by easing stress related situations invnlving'the publ and to funetipn ae a en�iwop of i nncitiya Pnlire / Fire and community relations. Jr. Objectives A. Being sensitive to different faith experiences and religious views, the objectives of the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy are to: I . Provide counseling and spiritual assistance to the members of the Police and Fire Departments and all City of Lakeville employees in times of need. 2. Serve in a counseling capacity for the public that we serve. 3. Act as liaison between the Police and Fire Departments and the local community for the furtherance of sound community relations. 4. Have a membership comprised of a diverse group of chaplains, to include but not limited to religious affiliations, age, sex and race. III. Authorization and Structure A. Authorization: 1. The Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy operates under the joint authority of the Police Chief and Fire Chief or his/her designee. B. Structure: 1. The Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy is organizationally attached to both the Police and Fire Departments. 2. All Chaplains serve in a voluntary capacity. 3. The Chaplaincy membership structure consists of: a. Chaplain Director A volunteer position appointed jointly by the Police Chief and Fire Chief, and is responsible for recruiting, training and mentoring volunteer Associate Police and Fire Chaplains, as well as managing a 24 hour on call schedule under the direction of the Police and Fire liaison officers. Also act as Chair of all the regularly scheduled Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Meetings. b. Associate Police and Fire Chaplain Appointed by the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Committee, with the approval of the Police Chief and Fire Chief. The minimum authorized strength of Associate Chaplains is 6 volunteer chaplains with the representation coming from a mix of ecclesiastically credentialed organizations in the Lakeville Community. 4. The Police and Fire Chiefs shall designate representatives to serve as the Departmental Chaplain Liaisons. The Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Committee will consist of the following members: a. The Chaplain Director b. An Associate Chaplain C. Lakeville Police Department Liaison Officer d. Lakeville Fire Department Liaison Officer 6. The duties of the Chaplaincy Committee are: a. Act as an advisory board to oversee the Chaplaincy Program, and report to the Police and Fire Chiefs. b. To provide vision and mission clarity to the Chaplaincy Program. c. To provide policy direction. d. To hear grievances from the Chaplaincy. e. To screen new Associate Chaplains candidates. f Perform other duties as assigned by the Police and Fire Chiefs. IV. General Membership A. Eligibility to participate in Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy: A Police and Fire Chaplain is: I. An ecclesiastically ordained person, in good standing with their religious affiliation, with approval of theirjudicatory leadership, and five years' experience in ministry. 2. Willing to complete an application, submit to finger - printing and a criminal history check, and to be screened by the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Committee. 3. A person who possesses a current Minnesota Driver's License. 4. in acceptable physical and mental health. 5. One who lives and /or works in the Lakeville area. 6. Available to serve on -call on a 24 -hour basis, to be determined and governed by the Chaplain D;Yeoror_ 7. Tactful and considerate in their approach to all people, regardless of race, sex, creed, politics or religion. 8. Willing to become involved in training programs that enhance efficiency in meeting and dealing with people in crisis. V. Resignation A. Upon written request to the Police Chief and Fire Chief, an individual may resign at any time from the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy. B. A Chaplain whose resignation has been accepted will surrender city issued identification and whatever City of Lakeville equipment is in his /her possession. VI. Dismissal A. Chaplains are volunteers and can be dismissed at any time, with or without cause, by the Police Chief and Fire Chief. Violations of any law, or City of Lakeville, or Lakeville Police /Fire Department Policy or Procedure, or egregious act are examples that would necessitate immediate dismissal. B. A Chaplain being dismissed will surrender city issued identification and whatever City of Lakeville equipment is in his /her possession. VII. Duties and Responsibilities A. Police and Fire Chaplains are volunteer members of the Lakeville Police and Fire Departments, and are expected to be exceptional representatives of the City and the Lakeville Police and Fire Departments at all tines. 1. Each Chaplain will be required to spend 4 hours per month at the police and /or fire stations or in a ride along capacity. 2. Chaplains are encouraged to ride in a police squad on patrol. A ride -along can be scheduled through the Patrol Supervisors. An office space is also provided at the police station for the Chaplains to use. 3. Chaplains are encouraged to visit the fire stations, especially on training nights when the majority of the Firefighters are present. 4. Chaplains should be available to assist Police Officers and Firefighters upon request. 5. Chaplains are on -call and assigned to a schedule as determined by the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplain— Committee 6. Chaplains will be provided with proper identification to be worn at all times when in the police or fire stations, and when called to scenes of crisis. The Chaplain will always report to the on -scene supervisor upon arrival on a call - out scene. B. Personnel and their Families — Chaplains are: 1. Available to all members of the Police /Fire Departments and their families, as well as all City of Lakeville Employees and their families, in times of personal stress and /or crisis, as requested. 2. Available to assist department members in making notifications to families of officers or firefighters receiving serious injury, or upon the death of an officer or firefighter. 3. Encouraged to visit sick and injured personnel at home or in the hospital, as is appropriate. C. Training — Chaplains are: 1. Available to make presentations to department members and civic groups. 2. Encouraged to attend Fire Department trainings and activities, when appropriate. Encouraged to attend Police Department meetings, activities and training, when appropriate. D. Community — Chaplains are to: 1. Minister to people in crisis situations without prejudice. 2. Assist in contacting the preferred clergy of victims in crisis situations. 3. Assist in making death notifications. E. Religious Community— Chaplains are to: 1. Act as liaison between local clergy and the Police and Fire Departments. 2. Serve as a communications link between people in crisis and their own spiritual advisors. General — Chaplains are: Held to Data Privacy rules and laws and shall not release any information pertaining to any cases in which he /she is involved or has knowledge of. All information obtained shall be held in confidence. 2. Not to publicly criticize the actions of any department member, fellow Chaplain, or department policy or action. Any Chaplain having a grievance shall take the matter to the Lakeville Police and Fire Chaplaincy Committee via a Liaison Officer. 3. To attend all regularly scheduled Chaplaincy Meetings.