ITEMS of INTEREST

with contributions from Carmille C. Spenser, Karen Muller, Frances Grandy Taylor, Lindsey Keith

"On Wednesday Mornings at the Clinton [Mississippi] Police Department, retired officer Hilton Turner recalls being one of a dedicated few participating in devotion in the building's courtroom. Led by Sgt. Kenneth Lewis, who splits his duties between detective and police chaplain, Turner found solace in the pre-work ritual, one that isn't common at most metroarea police departments. 'We'd have devotion, and have incarcerated people sit in, said Turner, who retired in March. He'd do a sermon and give us a few things out of the Bible about right and wrong. If he only had one person come in, he would talk to them.' Clinton and Jackson are examples of metro-area law enforcement agencies with volunteer police chaplains.

This week, 15 of the 30 Jackson Police Department volunteer chaplains completed a refresher course on the department's policies including use of deadly force, death notifications, firearm training, and ethics. . . .

"The purpose of a chaplain is to be a listening ear for officers, said George Cricenti, public safety planner for JPD. A background check is required to be a chaplain. About five chaplains serve each of the four precincts in Jackson. 'A police chaplain is a ministry of presence,' he said. 'You've got to be there.' ..."

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