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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SPECIAL ORDER Effective Date: August 10, 2012  Amends - SO 6.0 (January 21, 2011) Number: 6.0 Distribution: All Chaplains Review Month: July Reviewing Authority: SSD / Community Relations Subject: Chaplain Prog ram This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Definitions 3. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to establish daily operational guidelines for the Volunteer Chaplain Program. 2. Definitions A. Associate Chaplain – a person training to be a Field Chaplain. B. Chaplain Services Liaison – Acts as a liaison between members of the program and the agency. C. Field Chaplain –A person who has an e cclesiastical certification, or is o rdained or licensed by a denomination , and who has completed the tr aining required by the agency . D. Honorary Chaplain – One appointed by the Sheriff as he deems necessary and may be ministers and/or lay people who wish to promote and support the welfare of the law enforcement community. E. Law Enforcement Chaplain Liaison Tr aining Coordinator – Coordinates orderly dissemination of information concerning in -service and required training courses for all chaplains. F. Squad Chaplain Coordinator – The general supervisor of the chaplains in their assigned squad. 3. Procedures A. General 1. The chaplain shall provide support services, spiritual support, and/or counseling of a nondenominational nature to agency employees and their families who request such assistance. 2. Agency employees and their families may also request that a l aw enforcement chaplain associated with a particular religion provide counseling and guidance that specifically reflects that faith. 6.0, Page 2 of 6 3. Chaplains may participate in designated agency ceremonies, and assist with death notifications on a non -denominational bas is, as needed. 4. The Law Enforcement Chaplain program may offer specific services associated with death notifications, invocations and benedictions at ceremonies or other applicable settings, weddings and funeral services. 5. The Chaplain program may of fer spiritual support to the general public as requested. 6. Chaplains who wish to suspend or discontinue their participation in the program should notify the Chaplain Liaison in writing. Chaplains suspending their participation will be placed on inactiv e status for six months. If they wish to return at the end of the six months, they must submit a letter of good standing from their congregations. The agency shall also conduct another background check. If they do not contact the Chaplain Liaison within the six -month suspension period, their participation in the program will be discontinued. If they wish to rejoin the program any time after being discontinue, they may reapply. B. Chaplain Services Liaison 1. This individual shall be responsible for overal l administration of the program . The position will answer directly to the Support Services Division Commander. 2. Evaluate potential chaplain candidates and submit recommendations to the Sheriff via the chain of command. 3. Confirm all program activities are a ppropriately documented. 4. Confirm the return of all agency -issued credentials and equipment when a clergy member resigns or is terminated from the program. 5. In all other respects, confirm proper administration of the program. 6. Confirm that all applicati ons are sent to HRD to be processed. 7. Responsible for recommending promotions to Field Chaplain. The Sheriff has exclusive authority to make any such promotions. C. Law Enforcement Chaplain Training Coordinator – Assistant Chaplain Liaison 1. This pos ition will answer directly to the Chaplain Services Liaison . 2. The Training Coordinator – Assistant Chaplain Liaison shall set an annual training calendar for all required training courses and any extra instructional classes which may be determined. Thi s calendar will be set in cooperation 6.0, Page 3 of 6 with the agency Training Section and the Community Relations Section Lieutenant . Instructors shall be approved by training as well as having the approved lesson plans on file as required. A diligent effort will be mad e to use previously approved instructors from within the agency as recommended by Training. The annual training calendar once set and approved by the Training Coordinator shall be provided to all chaplains. 3. Include routine special events, such as the annual awards banquet or other program into the annual calendar. 4. Special activities, such as service on the chaplain applicant review board or sub-committee or other detail, will also be considered part of the normal duty for the Training Coordinator. D. Squad Chaplain Coordinator 1. A Field Chaplain may volunteer or be appointed to the position of Squad Chaplain Coordinator. This position will answer directly to the Chaplain Services Liaison or the Training Coordinator. 2. Any misconduct or behavi or that may potentially bring any attention or embarrassment to the program, the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s Office shall be immediately reported to the Chaplain Services Lieutenant by the Chaplain Services Liaison . 3. The squad coordinator shall coordinate all activities of the squad chaplains and collect the monthly stats of chaplain s assigned to their squad . Statistics will be turned in to the Chaplain Services Liaison . 4. Special activities, such as service on the chaplain applicant review board, sub