Law officers share ways churches can help them

Churches can help law enforcement officers and their spouses cope with the stresses they live with every day, participants noted at the Eastern Regional Law Enforcement Summit in early October at Ridgecrest, N.C.
   
Among the suggestions they offered churches:
   
• “Offer support, such as social activities for my wife since she will be there without me a lot. Pray for us. We don’t have kids yet, but safe, low-cost daycare would be a real blessing to most cops,” Patrol Officer Wade Spence of the Oklahoma City Police Department said.
   
• “Talk to him. The leadership of the church needs to get to know the kinds of problems and stresses an officer has. Then, the officer will be comfortable talking to the pastor,” Sgt. Jeff McCorkle of the sheriff’s department in China Grove, N.C., said.
   
• “Have a special service honoring all the law enforcement officers in your town and invite them to come in uniform. Offer marriage ministries for the officers and their spouses. Pray,” Capt. Louis Colin of the New Orleans Police Department’s First District said.
   
• “Provide spiritual encouragement and prayer. Allow me the privilege of ministering outside the church. Come alongside me with my ministry,” Chaplain Steve Lee of Caldwell, Idaho, said.
   
• “Take time to get to know us as individuals who are in law enforcement. A lot of us are single, so invite us into a family unit. Offer alternatives other than going to a bar to hang out with friends. Open the church as a meeting place for officers, such as support groups and socials,” Jenny Creel of the towing and recovery unit with the Louisiana State Police in Lake Charles, La., said.
   
• “Something my church does that I really appreciate is they understand my schedule and know that I can’t be there every Sunday or for choir practice every Wednesday. They don’t mind if I come in full uniform if that’s what I need to do,” Patrol Lt. Debra Yokley of the Rowan County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office said. 
   
• “My church lists officers on the weekly prayer list so church members can pray for us. I’m invited to go speak to students at the Christian school and tell them about law enforcement. Something I think would be good for churches to have is a jail ministry, both for the law enforcement officers working there and the inmates,” Officer Shawn Applegate of the Rutherford County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Office said.
   
• “I’m pastor of my church, so of course it’s supportive. But, seriously, they understand the time I spend away from the church in my job as a chaplain. If I have to be out, someone else will fill in for me,” Chaplain Rufus Foxx of the Madison County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office said.  (BP)