Dec 2018

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Wes in Newsletter

Quote of the quarter:

“So, what the hell is a chaplain anyway?” – well… let me explain…

I get this question from unknowing people regularly. To have pictures capturing the expressions I receive when explaining would be the best photo gallery ever!

When it rains, it pours Niagara style

As many of you know, a key daily connection Code 7 makes with the police departments we serve is the bottled water we supply for the cops.

I met a pastor the other day that recently relocated to our area and wanted to know about what we do for our police. During our conversation I mentioned some of the support services we provide for our local law enforcement. I mentioned I solicit cash donations for water, power bars, and other items I regularly supply. He said he would see how he could help.

About a week later he contacted me saying he had some supplies coming our way. He mentioned a truck would be arriving in a few days with some water and power bars. I thought it was a terrific gesture, but maybe he didn’t hear me when I mentioned I fill my truck with a load of water every 5 days.

I have come to recognize my conservatism keeps my heart from rollercoaster rides when people make offers to help. When he invited me to see what the truck delivered, I nearly drowned in gratitude.

As you can see, the Lord provided in a great way. I received the largest water donation – EVER – an incredible flood of 17 pallets of water to be exact. That equates to nearly 3 months of hydration for the police department.

In addition to the water, he said they delivered some power bars too. The pastor took me to a single-car garage and opened the door. Inside were “some” eight pallets of power bars! Creativity and sharing is the overwhelming theme, as I set out on a quest to adequately share this unexplainable and protein-rich random donation with others.

LODD Training

I attended two days of training last week I hope I never need to use. It was line-of-duty death instruction from pre-planning to follow-up and everything in-between. The training and trainer were stellar. The best take-aways are the terrific new family additions to an expanded network of police, fire, chaplains, and mental health providers. I’m very blessed to partner up with these comrades and very encouraged to be journeying with them in support of others.

If a picture is worth 1000 words – how’s this?

Here are a few photos as reminders of God’s articulate imagination gloriously showcased in nature. He has blessed us with unique flowers reminding me of how, as originals ourselves, we are perfectly created by Him. May these pictures cause you to pause and breathe in the love of God through His creation. May you be inspired to look humans in the eyes with the same awe of the beauty He created.

Sweet Unusual Blessing

I received the message from a police officer asking if I would like some candy. My response to nearly every donation I’m offered is an immediate YES! I figure the details can work themselves out later. In this particular case, or should I say cases… I was given a pallet of 50, 31-pound cases of individually wrapped candies. I know, you’re thinking – what in the world did he do with all those… well, lemme splain.

I connected up with six local churches, and four nonprofits who were overjoyed to receive such a sweet blessing the week before most of them had Halloween parties planned around the end of October. A whopping 150,000 candies were never on my requested donation list but certainly put a lot of smiles on a lot of kids’ and adults’ faces as they received the bounty of sweetness from Code 7.

CAST calls

I once again had the honor of connecting with individuals and families through life’s worst occasions. I had multiple CAST callouts by the police department, where I provided care on the scene of a death. I helped by being present for the loved ones and also helped facilitate and lead multiple funerals this quarter.

Make sure you take an opportunity today to thank God for your loved ones, and remind them how valuable they are to you. Death has no do overs.

CNT – Roll Player

I was asked to play a role during the Crisis Negotiation Team training this week. The training Sergeant asked if I would be the religious fanatic. Not my most amazing quality, but I gave it a go. In the scenario I had to be argumentative, angry, hostile, threatening, and irrational. The role-play was quite outside of my comfort zone and actually stressful. My personality and style as a person and a chaplain are much more neutral, calming, relational, and helpful.

When creating the narrative I would use, I couldn’t help but think of the mixed messages I would be sending my friends on the negotiation team. They said I did “crazy” real well. I’m not sure if that compliment is a good thing or not. Fun times were had by all – I think.

Hopefully everyone forgives me for my foolishness and the stress and anxiety I brought to everyone attempting to reason with me. It was good training in the art of verbal Judo and the refinement of negotiation skills.

Donny’s Café and Code 7

I found out Code 7 is the honored cause or the annual giving-back fundraiser Donny’s Café does each year. They are selling t-shirts, and our name is on the sleeve. Proceeds go to us as we support our law enforcement. THANKS, DONNY! If you have never been to Donny’s, in Bonita, my only question is – why not?

In Conclusion

Tomorrow, December 15, is the anniversary of Code 7! Six years ago we launched out with 7 Objectives:

CODE 7promotes the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health of the law enforcement personnel.
CODE 7cares for and encourages law enforcement personnel as they fulfill the duties of their vocation.
CODE 7 engages in prayer regularly for the law enforcement personnel and believes prayer is a vital source of strength.
CODE 7provides chaplains for support and a spiritual presence within the law enforcement community.
CODE 7 offers education and referrals to assist in developing healthy families and relationships within the law enforcement community.
CODE 7recommends law enforcement take CODE 7 breaks for rest, reflection, and renewal.
CODE 7develops partnerships with pro-law enforcement sponsors to support those who protect us.

Thank you for your interest, partnership and support. Together we ARE helping create an environment where our police know their community supports them and values their service.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1John 4:9

Blessings,

Wes Anderson
Founder/Chaplain Code 7

“You are not here to save the world, but you are here to touch the hands that are within your reach”~ Kathleen Price

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Code 7 Connection Newsletter * July/August/September 2018

Posted on December 1, 2018 by Wes in Newsletter

Code 7 Connection Newsletter Qtr 3 2018

“QUOTE OF THE QUARTER”

“Oh, so I see the Captainis out with the lower ranks tonight.” (my shirt reads Chaplain) I say – Everybody needs to get out sometime.

Unusual Calls:

As a law enforcement chaplain, I am exposed to plenty of interesting situations involving a spectrum of individuals. Take a look.

This driver “fell asleep” one afternoon and ran through the closed end of a “T” intersection directly into a barrier keeping her from entering a bridge construction site. The concrete barrier activated her airbag and provided her with a powdered wakeup slap in the face that would not be forgotten soon. Could have been worse.

This man, who couldn’t get what he wanted from the clerk in the Police Department lobby, threw a tantrum. His actions summoned our attention. We found him in the Police Department restroom where he was still actively throwing his fit while “showering off” at the sink. Not the best location to act out when you are angry and high. Transportation was provided for him to a secure area where he could cool down and work on his behavior.

Finishing it off with this photo of an extensive minivan trunk bong collection. I guess he wanted to keep his favorites with him in case he got an invite to a party.

Regional Police Explorer Training

I was invited by my friend David to join him in presenting at the annual Regional Police Explorer weeklong Academy. The training was attended by a few hundred law enforcement interested teens. I listened to his terrific presentation of his critical incident last year and heard for the first time his full perspective of the ordeal.

I also had 25 minutes to share my memories of the incident, including my role and duties as a chaplain while riding along. I stressed the need for self-care and for the students to stay alert to the mental/emotional state of their fellow classmates after something traumatic, in case they may have some after affects. The team from CVPD did an amazing job planning and executing the extensive training.

Epidemic Levels:

Police calls involving mental health issues.

Our law enforcement spends more and more time daily addressing mental health issues throughout the community. Each call is unique and requires copious attention to detail and the needs of the citizen. Sometimes, for the safety of themselves or others, police are required by law to place individuals into their custody and transport them to local facilities, where professional staff can further evaluate and even “hold” them for care. On those days, it’s nice to be able to enjoy a sunset and start the work of recalibrating ourselves on the way to the County Mental Health building. #smallthingsmatter

Sometimes, a Chick-fil-A (CFA) iced coffee is all you need to make an afternoon better.

Sometimes we need a full spread to feed the troops. A special thanks to the National City Clergy Association and CFA Eastlake Terraces for working together to get it done.

In Conclusion

It is an honor to serve as chaplain for the police departments in my community. Hanging out with the men and women of law enforcement and providing support through conversation, training, and encouragement is what I consider a win every day. Thank you for your ongoing generosity to me and the ministry of Code 7.

“There is nothing in your life God has blessed you with, that He doesn’t intend you to share with others.” ~ James Grogan

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. James 3:17-18

Blessings,

Wes Anderson
Executive Director ~ Code 7

“You are not here to save the world, but you are here to touch the hands that are within your reach”~ Kathleen Price

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Officer Ocean

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Wes in Officer Alpha Stories

Officer Ocean

Officer Ocean encountered an individual who seemed to be hallucinating. With his arms flailing, the man paced and circled the sidewalk immediately in front of an elementary school mumbling indistinguishable words. Parents escorting their children to school were deeply concerned and working hard to avoid interaction with the man. All of this summoned Officer Ocean.

When Officer Ocean arrived on scene, he immediately recognized the individual (Mr. Doe) from previous encounters. He calmly approached the confused Mr. Doe and introducing himself and said, “You know me, I’m your friend.” Officer Ocean continued his conversation with Mr. Doe using gentle, reassuring words and tones, reminding Mr. Doe he was there to help.

Officer Ocean asked how Mr. Doe was feeling and if he had taken his medication on schedule. Mr. Doe answered what is commonly heard by our law enforcement, “I’m not taking my medicines right now. When I take them I feel bad, so sometimes…” he hesitated, “I don’t take them.”

Officer Ocean asked Mr. Doe what he was having trouble with this morning and why he stopped in front of the school. Mr. Doe paused his movements momentarily but did not reply. Having observed an area of fresh dirt in front of the school where the landscaping had been torn out to make way for some new shrubs, Officer Ocean decided to go with a direct approach. “Is it your fear of dirt that has you stopped here in front of the school today?

The man looked cautiously upward through his dark eyebrows at Officer Ocean and confessed, “Yes, I don’t like that,” pointing at the dirt in the planter area. Without prying into the origin of his phobia, Officer Ocean offered to give Mr. Doe a ride, but the invitation was declined.

Officer Ocean offered an alternate resolution – he suggested the man carefully step off the sidewalk and into the curb line, walk about 15 feet, which would get him past the dirt, and then get back on the sidewalk. The simple solution was well received, and off he went. Problem solved.

Fast-forward five hours. In the same general area of the city, units were sent to investigate someone walking in the middle of the roadway. The caller stated a man was walking on the double yellow line of a four-lane road. The man kept stepping into the traffic, would get honked at, quickly re-direct his steps onto the yellow lines, only to attempt crossing again every few seconds. It was obviously a very dangerous situation that needed immediate attention.

Officer Ocean had a hunch that this might be his friend Mr. Doe from earlier in the day, so he asked to be added as a responder to the call and headed toward the area.

There he was, Mr. Doe, safely on the sidewalk. When asked why he had been in the middle of the road, Mr. Doe said he needed to be there because he didn’t want to be near Monster Street, because he doesn’t like monsters. The name of the street is Monserate, but the words were apparently similar enough in his mind to trigger overwhelming thoughts he couldn’t navigate without putting himself in the middle of the roadway.

When questioned further, Mr. Doe said he was in the middle of the road walking on the yellow lines because “I know it’s safe there. As long as I stay on the yellow lines no, cars can hit me.”

In this case, Officer Ocean determined Mr. Doe needed psychiatric attention, because he was unable to care for himself and was placing himself in danger with his actions. Mr. Doe’s safety was the priority and responsibility of Officer Ocean, so he provided transportation to a care facility for Mr. Doe’s further evaluation of his psychosis and more than likely renewed attempts at medication.

This story illustrates a very common problem our law enforcement confront daily – mental illness. These types of interaction require compassion, patience, and understanding. To engage individuals during these episodes is also dangerous – they don’t all go quite as smoothly as this one. Nevertheless, police officers always work to give their best to aide others.

The next time you see a cop, smile and say hello, and say a silent prayer for the variety of people they will encounter. Lord, give them wisdom to serve others in need who are knowingly or unknowingly endangering themselves or others.

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