Quote of the Quarter:

“Cops can experience a lifetime of stories in one day but go home and still feel like they have nothing to say.” @survivepolicing

HILLS and VALLEYS

These past couple of months have been full of hills and valleys. Great things have happened and tragedy has struck. As Chaplain I get to celebrate promotions, retirements, weddings, captured criminals, and cases closed. I also take the journey with the cops through the valleys. 

A recent deep valley was the news of a local police officer being struck by a car and died a violent death on the freeway while attempting to rescue a helpless victim of a traffic accident.

The entire police community came out to honor their comrade. I was in one of the police cars in the procession and noticed the line of cars headed to the church. I couldn’t see the front or the back cars. The freeway overpasses were filled with broken hearts saluting and honoring Officer Lauren Craven for her brief yet very dedicated service. Lauren was just 25 years old.

As I was driving in the procession to her farewell, the song came to mind by Tauren Wells titled Hills and Valleys. I share it with you as a reminder that God is with us in the hills of excitement and pinnacles of experiences as well as the Dead Sea valleys when we are parched and feel all alone.

JESUS QUESTIONS

My phone lit up with a message asking if I was still living in town. I replied, “Yes, how can I help you?” Six years had passed since I had traded texts with a retired cop I will call “Mike.” The reply was “Jesus stuff!… I am trying to figure out a lot of things for myself and could use some guidance.” 

Are you kidding me? I said to myself. This is my passion – – to share the love and grace of Jesus in the appointed season with law enforcement. This guy is grappling with his faith and spirituality and remembers the person he trusts and believes has the answers.

Well, I invited my friend to my house, and the next day we sat down to see what was on his mind. After an hour of conversation, I presented Mike with the “Romans Road.”

The Romans Road is a selection of scriptures that guides you through God’s plan for salvation by using specific verses from the book of Romans. I am including it here in case you are interested in a relationship with Christ and the path to get there.

Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, no not one.”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 


Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 


Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 


Romans 10:9-10 “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.

Romans 10:13 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 


Once we looked at each scripture and talked through the opportunity, I turned to my friend and asked, “Is this something that makes sense to you, and would you like to pray now to have your sins forgiven and start a new life with Christ?” He agreed, heaven rejoiced, and so did I!  

What do you know about Chaplains? Part 2

Did you know every time I leave the parking garage in a patrol car on a ride along, I pray silently asking God for wisdom and strength on how to reflect Him, and safety for my partner, myself, and everyone on shift. I pray for wisdom beyond our mutual experience so we can fulfill the role of cop and chaplain and return safely home to our families.

Did you know a chaplain has to do difficult things? On behalf of the department, the chaplain needs to do the difficult task of supporting the officers’ families when there’s a death in the line of duty or during their career. The chaplain gets to do weddings and celebrate the pinnacle of the police officers’ lives for the life of their adult children, too.

Did you know chaplains have to earn the right to speak? There’s a lot of time spent listening and finding ways to encourage, but sharing an opinion or challenge is by invitation only. 

Did you know in a real sense, a chaplain’s law enforcement community actually becomes his church? He is pastoring them through the difficulties cops face and can authentically understand their profession once he has proven he is trustworthy and is there to help. 

Did you know chaplains have to learn the art of hearing the deeper truth about unspoken fears and looming sorrow that lurk just outside every ordinary conversation? They understand there’s a testing time of reactions to see what the chaplain will really do when you tell them something bad. Cops often test the waters to see if you will still care and respect them once they’ve told you progressively worse or difficult troubles.

Did you know chaplains covet your prayers? Your prayers open doors for us in ministry.

In Conclusion

Relationships with cops are the vital life blood of our Code 7 ministry. With your help through prayer and financial contributions, we are able to spend time weekly in police cars to nurture and develop those relationships. Thank you for your encouragement and support of this ministry.

Quote of the Quarter:

2025 BOOM!

The year started off with a bang, literally. I was riding along with National City Police New Year’s Eve  when there were multiple callers to 911 about an argument at an apartment complex with a man having a gun. Everyone hurried to the address. When we arrived we saw a few people walking away and a man fitting the clothing description of the person with a gun running into an apartment. Of course “nobody” knew why we were there – at least that’s what they claimed. The entire group had been drinking excessively and were not on their best behavior, so they were detained while the investigation continued. 

All this activity promoted a SWAT callout, and a standoff ensued. After hours of attempting to get the subject inside the apartment to exit, flash bangs were used to prompt the man to come out. Finally, the police made entry into the apartment, and as they carefully searched room by room, they found a handgun and the suspect hiding in a small kitchen cabinet above the refrigerator. All ended peacefully. Happy New Year!

FAMILY NEWS

We had a busy January followed by a vacation in February which turned into difficult news for our family. On March 2 my mom, sister, spouses, and friends stepped off a cruise ship. That week we found out my mom‘s cancer spread to her brain. The next 30 days with her were a whirlwind. Darella Jean Anderson took her first steps in heaven April 2.

We had services for her in May, and thankfully, she went the way she wanted, in her sleep with no pain. Saying I am thankful for her life is a huge understatement. DJ Anderson was the BEST mother ever and huge supporter and contributor to Code 7. Mom was always asking for a police story. She constantly tracked my location and would text saying, “Hey, it looks like you are on a ridealong. Is there anything exciting happening? Love you and miss you, mom.” Life is different without you. You will always be my red hot pepper!

California Highway Patrol “CHP”

California Highway Patrol has not had a formal Chaplain program since the early 2000s. I was invited to be part of a pilot program linking current law enforcement chaplains to the Highway Patrol. San Diego office Commander Reggie Williams was there to welcome me to the team.

This new assignment is extra fun for me because my uncle Robert Melton #3700 was a CHP officer for 32 years. Here is a picture of his patrol car in front of my house in the early 1960’s.

CHP officers respond to high-speed collisions and encounter gruesome scenes as a result. They absorb countless situations that have the potential of generating high stress. Please pray for our team of chaplains as we build relationships and help be a light and encouragement to the officers.

Quite the interesting car number for my first ride along. If you know, you know. 

How many can we take?

It’s been said that a typical person will encounter 2 to 3 major critical incidents during their lifetime – things that they feel are life and death. Cops are said to encounter around 300 during their career.

Police officers are sent to situations to provide help all day, every day. Sometimes the situation is simple, sometimes extremely complex. Cops have to assess each situation, create an action plan, and then execute that plan. Most of the time they only have seconds, sometimes they are fortunate enough to have a few minutes. Either way, they are expected to perform flawlessly.  

When the situation is traumatic in nature, it may impact the police officer negatively. These critical incidents can build and build taking a toll on their personal life, mental life, spiritual life, and physical health. If not cared for, any one of those critical incidents where life or death were seeming imminent can cause lasting trauma.

There are specific triggers that may intensify the situations police find themselves in. A few of them are I thought I was going to die. Something that is unexpected, like going to a traffic accident and finding an infant in the car. Something that is close to “me or mine” – something connects back to their personal life. These triggers intensify the stress and need to be addressed for their wholeness.

Get Help!

Great first-responder therapists have come up with techniques to help process the stress and move through it, but getting officers to “Get Help” is oftentimes very difficult. The therapists are only able to do their work if the cop is willing. Too many times when officers are prompted by friends to go see a therapist, they set an appointment, drive to the parking lot, and then never get out of the car. 

Asking for help sometimes feels like a weakness to them. They feel ashamed that they couldn’t handle it or work through it by themselves. They figure they’ll be fine over time, but in reality, time won’t fix this situation. Time may just cause the trauma to fester and then infect their loved ones in negative ways.

Do you have a friend or family member who is in law-enforcement? Do some follow up. If you notice something, it’s okay to talk with them; this helps them know you care. There is great importance of companionship and mutual support. There is a great  vulnerability of being alone when facing adversity. 

What do you know about Chaplains? Part 1

Did you know Police Chaplains serve on their own time and are self-funded? They donate their time and finances to make sure they fulfill their commitment to the officers and departments where they volunteer. They solicit funds from friends, family, churches, and businesses to be able to support the mission of serving the cops. A Special shout out to those who support! Thank you!

Did you know Police Chaplains work nights and weekends, and their service sometimes takes them away from their family on holidays and special occasions?

Did you know Police Chaplains serve, not for notoriety, but because they believe it is the responsible use of the gift God has given them?

Did you know one of the foundational pillars of Police Chaplain work is their constant presence? Being present displays the visible message to the officers that chaplains care and that they are investing their time and energy to support them. With constant negativity on their calls for service, cops grow to know who is “in their corner,” and the Police Chaplain is at the top of the list.

Part 2 will be covered in the next publication. 

In Conclusion

It has been a trying season for me personally but I am pushing through. Thank you for your encouragement and support of this ministry.

Ecclesiastes 4:10a speaks about the benefit of companionship. “if one falls down, his companion can lift him up”.