Help us maintain a full-time Chaplain at EPD!
With your support, Friends of Local Police can help continue to fund a full-time Chaplain on-site with the Elkhart Police Department to directly serve the unique needs of the local police force.
- Click “donate online now” to access the giving form on the Community Foundation website
- Scroll down to where is says “choose fund” and select “Friends of Local Police Fund”
- Then scroll down and request it as a “gift – in honor of” Sr. Chaplain at EPD
The Need
While the spiritual needs of officers might be readily understood, the unique psychological needs are often not. Although there are many wonderful chaplains, ministries, and organizations working to address these issues, the need is still monumental and the culture greatly suffering.
Average number of critical events witnessed by officers
One survey of 193 police officers from small and midsize police departments, officers reported the number of critical incidents (an actual or perceived event or situation that involves crisis, disaster, trauma or emergency) that they had witnessed during the course of their career. The average number of events witnessed by officers was 188.
Source: Chopko, Palmieri, and Adams, 2015
Police officers nationwide committed suicide in 2021 - 2.19x as many officers taking their own lives as dying from felonious gunfire!
%
of working police officers in the U.S. experience symptoms of undiagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS)
%
Police officer alcoholism rate after 4 years on the force (nationwide)
%
Estimated rate of divorce in law enforcement in the U.S. where one or both members are an officer
https://leb.fbi.gov/spotlights/officer-wellness-spotlight-the-law-enforcement-family
These statistics represent nationwide data. They do not specifically reflect EPD Officers. The EPD Chaplain program is instrumental in keeping those numbers low.
The Vision
Addressing the unique vocational stresses of police officers is a key that opens the door to meeting spiritual and psychological needs. For every officer reached with the truth of the Gospel, new hope and stability is brought to that officer, their family and the community.
An officer fully devoted to following Christ, will bring the light of the Gospel into the darkest crime-ridden areas of the world and have great influence! With your help and by the grace of God, the time is right to make this hope a reality for all officers in Elkhart.
Meet Jason Brooks
Since July 2012, I’ve been a volunteer Chaplain with the Elkhart Police Department. Following in the footsteps of Chaplain Jim Bontrager, as Senior Chaplain with the EPD, I can help meet the unique needs of law enforcement officers, from a spiritual and psychological perspective. This role gives me the opportunity to lead and have a greater impact at EPD. I have had great success in building trust and relationships with those at EPD. I oversee our current team of volunteer Chaplains and our entire Chaplaincy Committee, lead Bible studies for officers, connect with officers on different occasions from ride-alongs to mentoring and serving, as well as lead Critical Incident Stress Debriefings for any officers directly involved in a critical incident.
Support a 100% Funded Chaplain
My intent is to raise support in a way similar to any missionary. This would include my salary, FICA, training, outreach and future growth and development as a Chaplain. I’m asking you to take some time to discuss this and pray about partnering with me in this effort to see the Elkhart Police Department impacted for Christ.
How to Support the Chaplain
Online
Visit www.InspiringGood.org/give-online
- Scroll down to where is says “choose fund” and
select “Friends of Local Police Fund” - Then scroll down and request it as a “gift – in honor of”:
Sr. Chaplain at EPD
Mail your check payable to
Community Foundation of Elkhart County
P.O. Box 2932, Elkhart, IN 46515
Please write “Friends of Local Police – Chaplain”* in the memo line.
In Person
Give your check, payable to the Community Foundation.
Please write “Friends of Local Police – Chaplain” in the memo line.
Questions? Contact Carrie@InspiringGood.org
*100% of all funds raised with this earmark are to support the FOLP Chaplain Campaign.
Contact Friends of Local Police – Elkhart
We make a difference in the lives our community.
Address
P.O. Box 2932
Elkhart, IN 46515
Phone
574 536 0640
info@friendsoflocalpolice.com