Serving as a Chaplain

Upcoming Academy

The Virginia Beach Police Department is holding its next Chaplains Academy from Sept. 7, 2024 through Nov. 9, 2024. Applications must be submitted by July 1.

Apply Today

Police Chaplains sit and wait with a person through the uncertainties of the most difficult times. Police Chaplains listen to the worries and concerns that ac​company persons in crisis. Police Chaplains are trained in listening skills, crisis intervention, and spiritual assessment.

Police Chaplains come from various faith backgrounds. They do not impose their belief system upon others. Rather, as spiritual caregivers, they listen and help people articulate their own meaning and beliefs and resources during times of crisis.

Duties & Responsibilities

Police Chaplains perform all or some of the following, depending on their qualifications, certification and licensure.

  • Make death notifications

  • Visit sick or injured officers and departmental personnel in homes and hospitals

  • Conduct funerals or memorial services

  • Conduct weddings, including pre-marital counseling

  • Assist in crisis intervention

  • Assist at suicide incidents

  • Provide assistance to victims

  • Assist in dealing with transients and the homeless

  • Patrol with an officer

  • Walk beat at oceanfront in summer months if needed

  • Counsel law enforcement officers

  • Counsel other members of the department

  • Counsel the families of law enforcement officers and other department personnel

  • Train officers in areas such as stress management, ethics, family life, and pre-retirement classes and courses

  • Serve as part of a department's Crisis Response Team

  • Serve as liaison with other clergy in the community

  • Offer invocations, benedictions, etc. at special occasions such as academy graduations, awards ceremonies, or other official functions

  • Serve on review boards, award boards, and other committees as requested

  • Your VBPD
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