THE POLICE CHAPLAINCY CORPS
X Chaplain's Blessing Troops before Deployment X
X Police Chaplain / Police Officers working the Streets in Rual & Urban areas - in some areas working closely with Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Official Ecumenical Catholic Flag
International Association of Police Chaplains Seal
is a ministry of
the Ecumenical Catholic Church - Diocese in Killeen & Fort Hood Texas & the Franciscans of the Holy Cross of Texas (OFC) - www.worldwidecatholic.org / www.ofcfranciscans.org - www.ecchurch.org
Prayer & Counseling with a Chaplain prior to duty
Ministry to God's Battered and Beaten:
Confessions in the Life of a Police Chaplain
The Police Chaplain's role has changed dramatically in the past two decades. Police chaplaincy used to be a ceremonial function until the 1980's, with the chaplain called upon to dedicate the occasional police building or to say blessings at police-related functions.
This is not so today. The police chaplain today is a trained professional (usually cross-trained) who works with police (or is a police officer) in serving the community and attending to the officers and civilians employed by the police agency.
Chaplain Robert Hall is a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains. In a speech to other chaplains, Chaplain Rob said " Response in crisis is the calling of the police chaplain. Response to God's call is his daily fare. S/he is a person who brings to the lost, the least, the lonely, the love of God. Here is the arena of life, and here, people are battered and beaten and sometimes questioning the existance of God. Here, by all the Jericho roads, lie all the victims that the frightened and fearful would pass by. Here is the gore and the grime, people cry that God, if God does exist, doesn't care. This is where the chaplain lives."
Just what some of the responses that the professional police chaplain must make? Looking at the Travis County (TX) police chaplain's logbook for the past year or so, we get a glimpse into the work both of the police and the chaplain.
One of the common calls that come to chaplains (if not a sworn officer) is to accompany an officer to make a death notification. When a person dies as a result of a traffic or industrial accident, the police must be the bearers of bad news. It is probably the task that officers dislike most.
There is no easy way to tell someone that a husband, son, father, wife daughter, mother, or lover has died. People go out the door to their day's work and unfortunately, there are those who never return. The chaplain accompanies officers to give this terrible news, not because the chaplain can do it any better, but to try to offer comfort and assistance to the bereaved.
It is the role of the officer to make sure that the family's questions regarding the cause of death are answered. The officer knows the facts of the case. The chaplain is there to help the family contact other family members and the clergy person who may be able to assist the family. Sometimes, like in Chaplain Robert's case, the police officer is also a priest who serves as the department police chaplain.
In many cases, the family will ask for a prayer and help right at that time. The most frequent calls for death notification are after suicides. No two suicides are the same. There was the man who took his life in the police parking lot. Another overdosed on drugs. Others use guns. One young man soaked himself with gasoline and struck a match. Just before Christmas, a young woman hanged herself. Another dies of carbon monoxide poisoning.
In many of these casese, be it murder, accidental death, or suicide, the officer who is involved may also need comfort and help in coming to grips with the dark side of his or her profession.
It is not easy to see what happened when someone has shot himself, or after a young boy sets fire to himself. It is not easy to have to go out to a quiet home and tell a family that a son has been murdered. It is not easy to pick up what is left of life at the scene of an accident. And then there are others who need ministry, such as the man who tried to smother the flames on the burning boy.
Many evenings the calls are routine, but sometimes I find myself ministering to people in their homes as we answer calls. The calls range from breaking and enterings to domestic abuse, to a teenager who has trashed a home or apartment. Ans there are always calls to bars where trouble has erupted.
In some cases, things quiet down when the troublemakers see a priest. In other cases, the chaplain has the job of picking up other officers' hats that go flying by in the scuffle.
As the year ended, I was called to testify at the coroner's inquest into the death of a young man who had taken his own life, as I had been one of the persons who had negotiated with him.
Listening again in our taped conversations and our pleas with the young victim, the negotiators and I were overcome by our unfortunate failure to convince this young man that he was loved.
There are also pleasant tasks for a chaplain. From time to time fellow officers have asked me to officiate at their weddings or family baptisms. I am also asked to speak to community groups, service clubs and churches regarding police chaplaincy.
There are times when I am called upon for confidential counseling. It has been my practice to pray with the officers each Thursday morning at briefing before they head out to the streets. Throughout the year, many members of the police service, sworn and civilian, have brought their prayer concerns to me and thses are remembered as we gather on Thursdays. I feel that this action has been of benefit to all as we come to think of ourselves as a "police family." On a sad note, this can also mean comforting officers and their families when loved ones die. Toward the end of this last year, I spent many hours with a retired officer who was dying with cancer. And before the year began, one of my first duties was to bury the him.
On the last Sunday of September, the annual Police Memorial Service is held in Memorial Park Cemetery. As many of our officers never have the opportunity to attend this, I have held a similar service in Austin for the past six years, going to a different church each year.
The International Conference of Police Chaplains is a worldwide professional organization of more than 2,000 chaplains in 12 countries. There were more than 350 chaplains in attendance from Canada, the United States, Jamaica, Australia, Great Britain, Zimbabwe and Kenya. I also attended the annual training seminar of the United States Police Chaplains Association in Tulsa in October. - X The Right Reverend Robert D. Hall, OFC - Apostolic Administrator - Ecumenical Catholic Bishop of Texas in Killeen / Fort Hood
Ecumenical Catholic
NON-DISCRIMINATION DECLARATION
Patron Saint of Police Officers - Saint Michael the Archangel
ADMINISTRATOR CONTACT INFORMATION
X Monsignor Robert D. Hall | Police Chaplain / Master Police Officer |
Police Chaplaincy Division | Texas / Oklahoma Region |
P.O. Box 441, Nolanville, TX 76559-0441 | Telephone: (254) 350-8060 |
Killeen / Fort Hood, Texas USA | |
Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of Texas |
FORT HOOD, TEXAS - SPECIAL NOTE: We are always welcoming new Chaplains who come from a structured certified programs and/or recognized seminary and Theological schools as well as hospital and hospice chaplaincy programs. In August 2010 we re-located our offices back to the Killeen area. Since re-locating the Diocese office closer to the Fort Hood area, we especially welcome Military Chaplains and Chaplain's Assistant's assigned to Fort Hood. The Police Chaplaincy Corps does not discriminate on any basis whatsoever in Chaplains, Chaplain Assistants, and those for whom they minister to and with.
www.ofcfranciscans.org / www.ueccna.org
WORLDWIDE CHURCH WEBSITE: www.ecchurch.org
Rt. Rev. Robert D. Hall, Police Chaplain / Master Texas Police Officer is the current Administrator of the Police Chaplaincy Corps - located near Fort Hood, Texas.
X Monsignor Robert Darrell Hall, OFC
Experience: Emergency Management Coordinator / Homeland Security Officer / State Special Investigator (Sexual Assault, Family Violence and Child Abuse), Crisis Negotiations, Certified Crime Prevention Inspector, Police Academy Instructor, Board Certified Pastoral Counselor (Commissioned Police Officer - Master Certification - TCLEOSE)
"Father Rob" has served as a licensed, certified, commissioned Police Officer for 20+ years in Central Texas. He served in various positions including: Patrol Supervisor, Investigator, CID Supervisor, Forensic Analyst, Academy Instructor, Task Force Member, Environmental Investigator, Homeland Security Officer, Emergency Management Coordinator, Court Protective Detail Deputy, Police Captain and Chief of Police. He hold a Special Investigator, Crime Prevention Inspector Certification, and Master Police Officer certification from the State of Texas. He was the youngest Captain promotion in Austin at the age of 28. His 1998 appointment as Chief of Police in a smaller jurisdiction made him one of the youngest chiefs in central Texas. He's served as a Marine Safety Enforcement Officer on Lake Travis (Austin, TX) and Chief Deputy Constable. Aside from his law enforcement duties, he holds degrees in theology and is a United Ecumenical Catholic Priest and Catholic Bishop. He served as a Police Chaplain and priest of serveral parishes in the Austin area. He's authored one book and co-authored another involving spirituality, sexuality, and social tolerance. He's an avid civil rights supporter. Additionally Bishop Robert has two sons: Rick, age 29 and Shawn Robert age 25. Shawn recently served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer. Shawn is enjoying his profession and unsure if he will seek to attend a state police academy. He lives with ihs wife Holly in central Texas.
"Serving Those who Serve Others"
The Franciscans of the Holy Cross of Texas (OFC) is a religious order under the Spiritual Protection of the Bishop Ordinary of Texas in Killeen. The Texas branch of the OFC is a part of the Ecumenical Catholic Church. It originates and works closely with the Provincial Offices in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In Texas, Our Goal is of service to our fellow brothers and sisters in the tradition of our patrol Saint Francis of Assisi. Other information can be located at: www.worldwidecatholic.org, and www.ueccna.org. We are open to all persons without condition and specifically place no human barriers between others and the Sacraments of the Church. www.ecchurch.org
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Ecumenical Catholic Flag Texas Police Officer Badges
The Sacrament of Baptism - All Saints Ecumenical Catholic Church Austin
X Monsignor Robert D. Hall, Catholic Bishop
Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of Texas in Killeen / Fort Hood (USA)
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 441, Nolanville, TX 76559-0441
For immediate Sacraments or Consult call the Rectory telephone number below for the physical address in Nolanville, Texas.
Confidential Cell: X"Father Rob" (254) 350-8060
Troubled? Stationed at Fort Hood? Need to talk confidentially? Let us know... ALL ARE WELCOME UNCONDITIONALLY! ABSOLUTELY NO JUDGMENTS. Completely Confidential in every detail.
"For in one Spirit we were baptized into one body, whether Jew or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and We were all given to drink of one Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:13
Christ called all people to one Church.
We proclaim and witnesses this Good News to ALL people. ALL are unconditionally welcome! Families, Singles, the Divorced and Remarried. All people of all sexual and affectional orientations.
Our Church Sacramentally and Liturgically celebrates the Catholic Tradition in a Spirit of Acceptance and Inclusivity. Come Grow With Us!
If you are interested in more information, Sacraments of the Church, for consulation, or to seek assistance please feel free to contact us. All calls are completely and totally confidential. (254)350-8060. You can obtain easy directions to the RECTORY where the On-Call Priest is located in Nolanville by contacting the above telephone number.
Please also visit our national church website at: Ecumenical Catholic Church www.ecchurch.org.
X Blessing the Troops before Deployment X
The Ecumenical Catholic Diocese of Texas also publishes information at: www.worldwidecatholic.org / www.ueccna.org / and the Chaplain can be reached by cellular telephone or: RevRobertDHall@aol.com. If it is a POLICE CHAPLAIN related matter, please use: DeputyRob4@aol.com. All calls are strictly confidential.
ALL ARE WELCOME WITHOUT CONDITION!
Remember at times when we are away from the cell phone: We may be on duty in the field, so it's perfectly ok to leave a confidential message. We shall surely return all calls if asked to do so. We appreciate your understanding This. From August 14, 2010, through the end of August 2010, we are in the process of moving the entire Police Chaplaincy Office from the Houston, Texas are to the Killeen/Fort Hood/Nolanville area, so please know that sometimes the best way to reach us IS via cellular telephone [254-350-8060]. We'll keep you posted as to when the Central Texas office is up and running but can help in emergencies.
In addition to regular Chaplain Services: We officiate at the Sacrament of Marriages (Perform Marriage ceremonies of all kinds), Visit the Sick/Ill and Homebond, Check-in on elderly persons as requested, Perform Baptisms, House Blessings and various other rituals. Feel free to ask about specifics. Sometimes those serving in the armed forces don't feel like they have a clergy person in which they can call upon in emergencies and we fill those needs as well. We work with Ecumenical Catholic, Roman Catholic, Anglican Catholic, Protestant and other religions. You don't have to be a member of any church or organized religion in order to ask for assistance from us.
A more solemn duty of the Police Chaplain: Delivering Death Messages. "Blessed are the Peace Makers."
IMPORTANT NOTICE
TO POLICE OFFICERS & MILITARY PERSONNEL
REGARDING EMERGENCIES & CRITICAL INCIDENTS
If you are a peace officer/fire fighter/EMT/EMS Worker or Public Servant OR ACTIVE MILITARY who is involved in a CRITICAL INCIDENT and need to speak to a PRIEST/POLICE CHAPLAIN - we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Contact the emergency cell at: (254)350-8060. (Complete CONFIDENTIALITY-UNDER THE SEAL OF CONFESSION). 402-B West Dale Avenue, Nolanville, TX 76559 USA.
