Four new chaplains for Douglas County Sheriff's Office

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recently acquired four new law enforcement chaplains. The new chaplains are civilian volunteers; faith based religious leaders in the community. The chaplains completed 60 hours of training in protocols and procedures in chaplaincy, along with DCSO procedures. The four new chaplains increased the group size from two to six. They are Bill Henderson, Eddy Sims, Frank Russell and Luke Wartgow.

Each law enforcement agency utilizes chaplains differently, and in Douglas County they are utilized by assisting deputies with tasks such as death notifications, and emotional support for those affected by crime and tragedy.

Just as law enforcement serves the public, so do the chaplains. They serve the public with compassion and without religious affiliation, provide encouragement and resources.

In 2001, DCSO responded to a triple fatal accident, and after the accident investigation was completed, a chaplain was called to assist in making the death notifications to three separate families. It was an extremely stressful time for the deputies on scene, and having a chaplain assist with these duties helped tremendously. The chaplain was also aware of how the tragedy affected the deputies and checked on them and offered a listening ear.