Code 7 Connection Newsletter Qtr 3, 2024

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Wes in Newsletter

Quote of the Quarter

“Jesus was more concerned about bringing everyone in than shutting certain people out.” ~ Max Lucado

Suicides

Being called out to help families or police officers with suicide is one of the toughest assignments. Whether serving as chaplain or crisis responder, there is no easy entry into the deep water of this type of death. Families and loved ones are devastated believing they could or should have done more or seen it coming. Usually you can’t.

An attempted or completed suicide speaks loudly of hopelessness, feeling trapped, or unbearable pain. My heart goes out to the families who have endured such tragedy.

Suicide is not the answer for your pain. There is help and hope. There are people who are willing and ready to support and encourage because YOUR LIFE MATTERS. Although you may not be able to see it at this moment.

“There are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind.” – CS Lewis

People have dedicated their lives to providing caring assistance and listening to the needs of others contemplating suicide. Here are some resources for you or others you care about:

Text or call 988 and you can talk to someone 24/7
vets4warriors.com 855-838-8255 has a great confidential peer support
1-800-COPLINE will put you in touch with retired police officers who can relate to your experiences and offer the support you need.

It may just be my exposure to these situations, but I believe you feel it too, the world is radiating the perspective of hopelessness. Hope is available – keep searching for it.

You Just Never Know

Every police call is different. It’s kind of like a bag of M&Ms – you never know exactly what you’re going to get. Calls may be similar in category but unique with every individual they encounter. This is what makes policing so exciting, interesting, and volatile.

Cops get into law enforcement with the premise that they’re going to help people in need, deter crime, and be a protector.

Sometimes they have a suspicion of the call they are dispatched to because the address or situation sounds familiar. They need to get a few extra people on board to make sure things have the best possible outcome.

When this group assembled for a call, the one with the most information and familiarity with the person in need was the best candidate for resolution and de-escalation steps, so they did most of the talking. The other officers were observing the potential dangers at the scene and listening to see if they might help keep everyone safe.

It was good to have a small group of police presence at the house that day because there had been multiple calls to the address in the past, and this was the second call that day.

Cops know there are endless variables to every interaction. This is why they are hypervigilant while on duty. They understand someone’s life may pay the ultimate price if they are not.

Silver Lining

Sometimes there is a silver lining after a tough or stressful day. Today it was a sunset.

I snapped this photo as we were driving an arrestee to their “time out” spot. They were having a not so good day and needed some extra care both by the officers involved on the call and by some mental health professionals.

Police officers learning to be aware of their stresses is a difficult task, so I often take it upon myself to remind my partners to take a nice deep breath and reflect on the good while they’re on shift. Ten or more hours dealing with the problems of others in the community can quickly take a toll unless a plan of self-care is part of the routine.

We were blessed with a gorgeous sunset and paused for a moment of thankfulness for all the beauty God has created for our enjoyment. Find the positive in all of life’s challenges.

BANG, BOOM, OOH, AHH

The sound of Fourth of July fireworks filled the sky and people filled the streets. It was my opportunity to do my very first “bike-along” this summer. I was on a police bicycle patrol with some pretty cool people cruising around a local park before, during, and after the City fireworks show. I had a fun time rolling around on two wheels on a beautiful afternoon with my partners.

In Conclusion

I am honored to serve our local police departments. Code 7 provides opportunities for me to be present and offer hope and encouragement to our officers. Your support helps this happen as it sponsors both me and the resources I provide to our cops. Thank you for your interest in this ministry and for being part of the positive impact on the individual lives of the officers and their loved ones. This is accomplished together through your financial support. Thank YOU!

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (NLT) Proverbs 11:25

Code 7 Connection Newsletter Qtr 1 & 2, 2024

Posted on June 9, 2024 by Wes in Newsletter

Quote of the Quarter

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” ~ Jesus

RELATIONSHIPS

As a young man in ministry, one of my mentors told me that “relationships are more important than personal accomplishments.” The phrase grew in my heart and became one of my life values and a quote I have repeated over the years. The trajectory of that phrase influenced how I connect with people and serve.

When we esteem others as treasured and valuable, we build a community with sustaining support for one another when life takes its dips and turns. Our plans are not always God’s plans, nor our ways His ways.

When life on this earth ends, I don’t think it will matter what the bank says you’re worth. I believe what will matter most is how you shared your years in relationship with others.

I think it is wise to keep your accounts short with others. What I mean by that is to resolve differences and conflicts as quickly as possible. If you can forgive and move forward, do it. If you work intentionally at fostering strained relationships and find a path of peace to move forward, I don’t think you will regret it.

Honoring ACPC

CVPD Assistant Chief Phil Collum spent his lifetime serving others through law-enforcement. He was well loved by many and was a true influencer. Phil mentored and encouraged people to be their best and do their best. Phil‘s faith in God‘s supreme love made him a servant of many. Phil’s giant smile was his consistent welcome card.

Phil’s life was cut short by cancer but his legacy, policies, and dedication to service will live on through many whose lives he touched. A Celebration of Life service was held, and I had the privilege to speak and share a message of God’s love to everyone in attendance. We’ve got it from here, Phil. We are glad you are at peace and now at home.

The Address

My phone rang unexpectedly one morning, and the dispatcher said a police officer needed my help. They told me that a police officer’s parent died at their home, and the on-duty Lieutenant specifically requested I go and assist. When the dispatcher gave me the address, I knew who’s home it was.

I had been there before socially years ago. I went directly to the house, greeted the family, and stayed through the required process. The Lieutenant and another Armed Forces veteran saluted the officer’s father as he was taken into the care of the mortuary.

The Sgt said he had handled probably a hundred deaths but of course nothing hit so close to home – literally.

To be called on in times of crisis is what a chaplain does. We support and often spend an extended time of silence, simply being present, reflecting God‘s compassion, care, and presence in the midst of difficulty and tragedy. This is our role and a reminder to the family that God is not absent but He is present. In this case it was a relationship formed years ago that allowed me to serve in this moment of need.

Prayer Breakfast 2024

I was blessed with the support of Code 7 donors to be able to sponsor four tables at the recent Law Enforcement Prayer Breakfast. I was joined by both Chula Vista and National City Police Departments at the tables where we received an encouraging word and a gospel message.The room was filled with first responders, and it is always energizing to see so many I’ve met over the years.

Chaplain Rick

My partner in ministry and Code 7 Chaplain Rick Rojas is taking some time off. He ended up finding out, through a relatively small medical incident, that he had a form of blood cancer. Rick has been a trooper and is fighting with everything he’s got. Rick invited over the team from NCPD to hear his story. He captivated his audience of about 25 police employees on his patio as he shared his win-win situation.

As he describes it, it’s a win-win. He explained that if God heals him and he beats his cancer, it’s a win because he gets to be around and serve longer. Also, he said if the Lord calls him home, it’s a win because he gets to be in heaven with the Lord. His attitude is amazing and his testimony of how he’s handling his cancer and the difficulties are a reflection of his faith. We are praying for you, Rick, as you continue the battle.

Decompress

People ask me sometimes what I do to burn off my stress, so I included a couple of pictures of recent fun adventures. I like to mountain bike out in the hills of San Diego County with my friends. People ask me if I like to road bike and I say no; I’ll take the rocks and the rattlesnakes over distracted drivers on the highways any day of the week 🙂 Oh, and once in a while, I get to attend fun events and have a colorful parrot rest on my arm.

In Conclusion

Relationships are the basis for our Code 7 ministry to cops and the people in crisis. A relationship with Jesus is the most important followed by family and friends and the people you cross paths with. I encourage you to nurture the relationships closest to you and keep your accounts short. Thank you for your encouragement and support of this ministry.

Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. James 5:16

Code 7 Connection Newsletter Qtr 3 & 4, 2023

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Wes in Newsletter

“QUOTE OF THE QUARTER”

“Sometimes you just need to knock on the door.” ~ Agt. Craig Rolain

As we come to the end of another year, I can’t help reflecting on how many of YOU have been a part of bringing God’s love to cops over the past 12 months. The shift work and long hours for cops keeps most of them from making it to church. It won’t necessarily be on a Sunday, but YOU are helping bring church to our law enforcement by your support of Code 7. You help me and our other two chaplains get into the police car each week and share/live/love out the Jesus message. Thank you!

The Weight of the Badge

There is and always will be a need for our law enforcement. Their job is very difficult. Just the other afternoon I was at a roll call, and they were replaying the events of the previous night. Hearing the calls they responded to reminded me that serving in law enforcement is not just a job, it’s a calling that comes with unique stressors.

Officers routinely encounter situations that most people never will. That night they had a house fire and were first on scene – one person died and two were injured. They had a case involving a teenager who had been sexually abused by a sibling. The same team had a traffic accident involving a fellow police officer who was cut off by another driver – both parties sustained injuries.

The emotional toll of these incidents is profound. Responding to critical incidents and dealing with the after-effects of these experiences weighs heavy on the badge.

Officers learn to detach emotionally in the moment to stay focused, but this coping mechanism has its limits. The stress of constant vigilance, the knowledge that every shift could be their last, and the need to be a counselor, parent, and comforter to the community takes a toll.

At Code 7, our mission is to bring hope into these challenging environments. Our presence during ride-alongs and our support in the aftermath of traumatic and stressful events are vital in showing officers they are not alone.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours sharing a listening ear to the full hearts of our officers. Creating an environment where officers can share their experiences without judgment is crucial and helps reduce the isolation officers often feel.

Code 7 and Code 8

Police Departments use codes for nearly everything, It is a way to say more with less. Sometimes during a critical incident saying Code Cover, or Cover Now is enough to get a half-dozen officers to your location faster than Batman.

Code 7 as you know is the police code for taking a meal break, but did I ever tell you about Code 8? Code 8 is rarely used in communication. It’s the signal for a bathroom break.

Code 8 is a critical part of an officer’s 10 or 12-hour day out in the field.

A local church, Eastlake Church, recently opened its doors to the police to use their restrooms 24 hours a day. They installed special combination locks and offer a safe and clean restroom experience. Our cops are happy to have this luxury and not have to use a gas station toilet. Whew, that was close… thx 🙂

HOT – Homeless Outreach Team

I spent a day with the Homeless Outreach Team and had a true eye-opening experience! The team started their day by following up on complaints that had come in since their last shift. The team made contact with the business owners and residents who had called in regarding the homeless “camping”, as they call it, on private property, sleeping in front of business entrances, trash piled up, urination in public and general unwanted behavior.

Next, the team circled around town looking at the known problem areas they had recently cleaned up, and then drove around to see if they could spot any new areas where groups were gathering and potentially forming a new spot where resources may be offered in the future.

The officers had spread the word the previous week that mobile showers, nurses, and resource providers would be available at a designated time and location. These free, safe, and clean showers are an example of the HOT team offerings every couple of weeks.

I wish more people living on the streets would take advantage of opportunities like this. The choice to live on the streets and have limited responsibilities is appealing to so many. That along with mental illness and drug use, fuels a social challenge for us all. Prayer is needed for the HOT team as their hearts are so big to help. With such a limited response to all that is available to the needy, they can easily become discouraged in their work.

In Conclusion

The Code 7 mission is to support law enforcement personnel by offering hope, encouragement, and practical assistance in the workplace. Our service is compassionate, supportive, and often reflective, with an emphasis on the human side of law enforcement work.

Thank you for taking the time to read through these stories. Thank you for your interest and financial support for the work of Code 7.

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (NLT) Proverbs 11:25