The SPD Community Chaplaincy is a nonprofit nonsectarian organization whose mission is to build a partnership with the Seattle Police Department to offer the support services of Community Chaplains 24/7 to traumatized citizens in response to an Officer's request when dispatched to highly emotional crisis calls. To learn more about the SPD Community Chaplaincy Program, go to our History Page.

I express my sincere condolences to all of those who have been affected by the murder of Officer Timothy Brenton.

Our First Call
May I take a few moments and reflect on the first call that we had in our Community Chaplaincy Program. I remember that we had just finished the Academy...class 2002.1 September 24,25,26 of that year. The call came from my friend Sergeant Fred Jordan of the North Precinct.

He reported to me that in the Lake City area, there had been a party in the downstairs unit of an apartment house. The two people involved had been drinking and about 2am that morning, shots rang out...one of them lay dead on the front lawn. The police were telephoned and responded determining that the other subject had been forced to defend himself.

Yet, out on the front lawn lay the deceased subject with a 'yellow' investigations tarp over his body. The time now was 5am and people were awaking from their sleep to still have 'crime scene' tape, smell, and yellow tarp greet them. It was an upsetting picture.

The Sergeant also told me that two children were going to go to school and he didn't know how this could be 'positive'. "Could one of your chaplains help us with the children. Even get them to school?"

I responded that we would and immediately called Diane and 'Peg' to respond. By the time I got there, the two women were already in conversation with Sergeant Jordan. There was still some time before the children had to go to school, so we decided to let the parents make the decision.

Without a clue, the newmedia arrived and began filming. This changed our plans of taking them out the front. We decided to take them out the bedroom windows. There is a story all it's own here. Around the side of the house they came and Diane and 'Peg' went into action. I immediately went to the school to let them know we were on our way. Only minutes after me came the children escorted by Diane and 'Peg'.

I was so proud of them! I sat outside as numerous friends and teachers rushed to their side. In a private room, I could hear Diane and 'Peg' talking down the emotions and reassuring the safety that these children needed. I remember that I was so rewarded for all the work that had gone into the scouting and training of our excellent volunteers.

That was our first call and though four years have passed, I am still so very proud of the excellent work that our Community Chaplaincy volunteers carry one. "Keep up the good work everyone!"
Chaplain John K. Oas