Chris Robles is a supervisory special agent for a US federal law enforcement agency. (Because of security reasons, we've agreed not to name the agency.) Chris has been in the law enforcement field for 20 years, and his personal safety is naturally an important issue for his wife and three children. He recently talked with the Sentinel about how prayer and closeness to God give him a sure feeling of security.

Tell us how your study of the laws of God has impacted your work in law enforcement.

My wife introduced me to Christian Science before we got married. We dated for seven years, so I had a lot of time to find out about it and to study it. But when we started having children, I began to study more deeply. This was also about the time that I began my work in federal law enforcement. I found that the comfort Christian Science brought was something I could turn to in a split second—in a dangerous situation. I tell my wife that before I put on my bulletproof vest, I do what St. Paul in the Bible advises: He says, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:11). So I always put on my armor of God's love.

In one particular case I was on in Oklahoma, an infant had been kidnapped. In these situations, the longer a child is not found, the more likely it is that he or she will not be recovered alive. This case had gone on for six days, and the whole office was working on it. I had been out doing interviews. I could feel the emotional toll this case was taking on all of us. We had met the parents, and we were seeing them every day. And we were hoping to get leads of people to talk to. So often, people would say, "We know about this case, and we've been praying for the safe recovery of that baby."

One of the most difficult parts of my job was having to interview former patients—possible suspects—from the hospital where the infant had been taken. These were women who had recently lost babies. My wife and mother-in-law and I were all praying about the whole case—yes, about recovering the child, but also about how I could best go about my job without offending these women who were already suffering from their recent losses. So when I had to go to the women's homes, I tried to be as sensitive as I could.

I prayed each time for guidance on how I could approach this without saying, "I know you've lost a child, and that's why you're a suspect." It came to me to be a little humorous, without offending them. It was one of the hardest things I ever did. I'd show them the picture of the artist's sketch of the suspect, a Caucasian woman. I'd say, "Do you think you look kind of like this woman?" which of course they never did. They'd laugh, and it would make it so much easier for both of us. I'd have to search their homes, and they would be just fine about it. Sometimes, they would tell me about the child they had recently lost. Before I left their houses, each one said, "You know I've been praying about this child to be returned." That always stuck with me.

On the seventh day, the infant was recovered in another state. Everyone really rejoiced. That was one of the hardest assignments I'd had, one where I felt that Christian Science really helped me. And though I'm sure prayer had a huge part in bringing that case to a happy conclusion, I know it wasn't just my and my family's prayers—but the prayers of everyone in that state and across the US. Because of the wide coverage, someone had seen the news story in another state and called in a tip.

You must have had occasions when you felt physically in danger. Were you able to draw on prayer as a resource during those times?

Several times I worked with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Gang Unit. We executed numerous search-and-arrest warrants in the cities of Comptom and Watts. We were doing searches on drug houses where people sold rock cocaine. This was at a time following the Rodney King beating that was videotaped and shown on television constantly. As a result, the LAPD was receiving a lot of complaints and negative publicity about police brutality.

During this assignment, our unit arrested the most violent criminals and recovered a record number of firearms. It's interesting, though—because although we were supposed to be seizing dope, we kept confiscating automatic machine guns and other weapons. When we went on these raids, in the early morning before the signal to proceed, we'd be waiting in the cars. It would be very quiet, and I would take that time to pray. My partner, an LAPD officer, also did the same. For me, I specifically prayed to understand that the people we were going to arrest had the same Mind (God) that we did, and that I was going to treat them with the same respect that I would give to anyone else. And in all those arrests, we never had a complaint filed against us for harassment or any kind of brutality.

As far as my personal safety, I've been in a few shooting situations, and these situations happen really fast. One time I was with the LAPD officers, and we were just getting ready to go to lunch. We got a call over the radio that an officer was down. We responded and were on the scene within five minutes. We found an officer shot in the shoulder—pain was etched on his face, and his eyes were closed because he feared he had glass in them. I gave no power to the material picture before us and instead distracted him from this by asking questions about the perpetrator. He told us a guy he'd pulled over had gotten out of his car and started shooting at him with a machine gun.

The ambulance arrived just as we did, and I was able to talk with the officer for just a moment. By then we heard over the radio that the subject had run away and was firing the machine gun about two blocks away. We took off right away to try to capture him.

As we got to the scene, we saw the man shooting in our direction, and all around innocent people were trying to get out of the way and off the street. People who had just been walking along, some even with baby carriages, were trying to get down.

We began immediately pulling people out of the crossfire. During this time, I never felt afraid for my life. My only thoughts were to get these people out of harm's way—they were terrified. The sound of automatic gunfire is very alarming. I was wearing my bulletproof vest, but more than that, though, as I said, I start each day by putting on my armor of Love, and I felt that powerful protection, the protection of God's infinite, ever-protecting love. The suspect was arrested the next day, and the officer who was hit recovered fully.

Actually, since that time, before I even get out of bed, right when the alarm goes off, I say my prayers. And then I get up. I start the day by reading from the Bible and Science and Health. This helps me get straight during the day that God is my comforter and my protector. I've felt this protection in many other situations—not just dangerous ones. I stop and listen for God's guidance before I do anything, whether it's something like breaking down the door to a crack house, or just an ordinary everyday situation.

Do you feel there's support in your work environment for a spiritual dimension to law enforcement?

In our work here, where I'm now training other agents, there's a lot of diversity. You can walk by different people's desks, and you might see a Book of Mormon, a Watchtower Magazine, or a Bible. Maybe a Star of David. They're very tolerant of different religious beliefs here. I remember something my instructor told us 15 years ago at the Academy. He said that if we were having problems in our life, we should check our priorities. He said, "This is the order you should have: 1. Your relationship with God; 2. Your family; 3. Your job here in this agency." That has really stayed with me.

We have a chapel here, and services are posted. Spirituality is encouraged—it's not part of policy or government procedure. But the people who work here put up information on bulletin boards, such as where you can find churches and other religious information in the area. No one pushes it, but it's here.

After 9/11, as our agency was involved in our part of various investigations, I felt a deep sense of love. We had all been working well before—but even more so now, as we drew together in this worldwide emergency. As I was reading my Bible and Science and Health one evening during a dinner break (we were working around the clock), another agent came up and told me she also was a Christian Scientist, something I'd never known about her. I'd always thought she had such a calming effect on different situations. Another agent mentioned that the Bible was what we "all need to be reading." I felt very comfortable reading these books during my breaks.

The focus in federal law enforcement is shifting from domestic crime such as drugs and bank robberies to the worldwide threat of terrorist attacks. How has your approach shifted, or has it?

Spiritually, I don't think it's any different now with global threats. Before, I was praying for myself. But really, nothing has changed as far as how I pray about others. We're all the same children of God. I don't think there are bad people over there and good people over here. I stay colorblind to that perspective. I don't see people as being separated by religion, nationality, or belief. We are all God's children.