Mobile Law Enforcement Ministry Consoles Cops in Crisis on Frontlines

Mobile Law Enforcement Ministry Consoles Cops in Crisis on Frontlines

By Stephen Owsinski 

Similar to the Chicago-based Light the Line’s mobile wellness unit responding to cops in the field of operations and tending to their needs, the National Law Enforcement Ministry’s mobile service is staffed by former officers who are police chaplains going to locales where first responders are grieving the loss of police lives, anguished from dealing with catastrophes.

The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team police chaplains serve communities whose first responders —military, law enforcement, and firefighters— are reeling from utter loss due to duty-related incidents.

The evangelistic group’s purpose is to “strengthen the spiritual fitness of law enforcement” by deploying a contingent of chaplains to minister to those whose badges are heavy. Those in the National Law Enforcement Ministry (NLEM) are no strangers to what cops confront…since each has personally served citizens by fighting crime and evil, making them peace officers in two ways.

Thankfully, this is another police-centric resource for those bravely occupying the thin blue line to receive support.

That brief video was posted around the time the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department sustained several casualties while serving a warrant, resulting in eight shot law enforcement officers, four of whom succumbed.

That is just one horrific episode for which the Law Enforcement Ministry mobilized. A glimpse of national news compels us to realize how busy police chaplains are, especially since the anti-police charade sprouted and spread like untended weeds on steroids.

(Photo courtesy of the Bradenton Police Department.) 

The War on Cops Continues 

Given how the hands and mouths of politicos have helped shape dangerous environs and boisterously betrayed America’s cops by standing with oppositionists defying law and order principles, opting for silence when a succession of murders of LEOs notches the numbers of heroes slain in the line of duty, the lungs of police funeral trumpeters have been consistently blowing Taps.

(Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts State Police.)

Speaking of consistent lung use, National Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Joe Gamaldi has been getting more red in the face (respectfully) and posting the tolls taken almost daily lately, chronicling officers shot and/or killed. “It’s disgusting!” he often echoes. I agree, always.

Mr. Gamaldi speaks loudly so that the elected silent ones huddling in the back can hear the anguish over spoils they continue to do nothing about. We are still waiting for the “Protect and Serve Act” to see the light it deserves after such dark times…

The mind-numbing and heartrending series of killing of America’s cops means the NLEM police chaplains are going to be on the road much more than contemporary rock stars.

Lord knows the Herculean efforts of cops to stay above the water line, despite tumultuous tides changing unrelentingly, is engendering His peacekeepers to deploy and counsel warriors on the frontlines and beyond.

These suppliers of spiritual buttressing acutely recognize that “law enforcement officers are held to high standards of physical, social, and mental fitness. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team strives to give officers the opportunity to build their spiritual fitness and encourage Christ-centered growth in their careers, marriages, and lives.

And it is not just on the frontlines where police chaplains show up…

“The National Law Enforcement Ministry also hosts Law Enforcement Appreciation Programs (LEAP), in appreciation and support of law enforcement officers locally and nationally.”

In addition to meeting cops right where they are in respective jurisdictions, the NLEM staff hold religious services and pastor from the podium, speaking spiritual, healing messages before groups of commissioned law enforcement officers and non-commissioned folks torn by tragedy involving the slaying of one of their own or, in general, crimes against justice practitioners doing so much for so many.

(Photo courtesy of the National Law Enforcement Ministry.) 

As fluid as policing is, the NLEM chaplains largely keep rubber to the road and crisscross the country, responding to the latest travesties endured by law enforcement officers.

Recently, the Dallas Police Department reeled from the line-of-duty loss of Officer Darron Burks who was executed while simply sitting in his cruiser.

(Photo courtesy of Assist the Officer Foundation.)

Per the Assist the Officer Foundation, Officer Burks’s line-of-duty death scales the mental weight foisted upon the backs of Dallas cops and dispatchers, offering in-house counsel and spiritual support:

“There’s a lot of us trying to process this tragedy. And there is no quick fix, sadly. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please reach out. We hold a first responders spiritual fitness class every Tuesday and Thursday. If you need it, come on [in].”

As the world turns, and our nation’s beloved police personnel endure daily onslaughts of hate and misery and poor politics stirring the pot, activating evil minds salivating over destruction, we put our hands together and pray over the courageous men and women enduring chronic crises on the frontlines of America.

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