History
The
Police Chaplaincy was started by Chaplain Bert McQueen in 1980. In 1986, APCM was incorporated as a
501(c)(3) non-profit ministry.
APFCM has approximately 85
Chaplains throughout Alaska that either were introduced to Chaplaincy
or joined the ranks as chaplain and have asked to be included with
APFCM. They provide service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Last
year this accounted for over 35,000 hours of service. Additionally
there are over 200 Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) volunteers.
Purpose and Goals
The Alaska Police and Fire Chaplains Ministries (APFCM) is
associated with the International Conference of Police Chaplains
(ICPC). Chaplains associated with APCM are encouraged to become
members of ICPC.
Examples of Services:
Police and Fire chaplains are specifically trained to work
in crisis situations. They provide a variety of support
services to the law enforcement/fire agencies and the
community. Listed below are some of the ways chaplains
are used:
- assist and advise officers and firefighters with
personal and professional issues
- assist and advise other members of the department
- assist and advise family members of officers,
firefighters and other personnel
- visit sick or injured officers, firefighters, personnel
and family members
- assist in making death notifications
- provide assistance/crisis intervention to victims of
traumatic incidents
- provide training in a wide range of related topics;
e.g., suicide, death notifications, stress management,
grief, ethics, family life, pre-retirement courses, etc.
- serve as part of the crisis response debriefing team and
provide CISM programs
- assist in suicide incidents
- serve as a liaison with other clergy in the community
- furnish expert answers to religious questions; e.g.,
culture, different beliefs, rituals, etc.
- participate in formal functions
- serve on review boards, award boards and other
committees
- assist with transients and the homeless
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