Chaplain Program is huge success in Dodge County

Throughout his career with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Scott Rose always had an interest in bringing a Chaplain Program to Dodge County.
“It was something we realized we were missing here,” Rose said.
A year ago that dream became a reality in Dodge County. Ever since then, it has been a huge help for first responders and community members in Dodge County.
After doing research in 2017 about how it would work, the program officially began in 2018.
Rose knew that one of the important things for the program to work would be for him to find someone in his office to take on the role as a leader of the program. And he had no problem doing that.
“Sgt. Shannon Boerner took on the role of supervising this program. He really did most of the planning and implementation to get this program started,” said Rose. “Sgt. Boerner took on this role in addition to his night patrol sergeant responsibilities,” he stated. “He really has done an amazing job leading this program and helping make it the success it is,” he added.
The main role of the Chaplains through the program is to help the public and first responders with mostly fatality calls, including suicide, vehicle crashes, natural cause deaths, etc.
In addition, they’ve assisted while doing ride-alongs with our deputies on a number of different types of incidents – domestic assaults, suicidal threats, child welfare issues, etc.
Their role on the scene is to help support victims and families with emotional support during emotional times. This has proven to be a huge help to first responders on scene.
“The Chaplains have proven invaluable in often fulfilling a necessary role at a scene that is sometimes uncomfortable  or difficult for our staff to take on while still focusing on investigating and processing the incident,” Rose stated.
Rose explained that they have also taken on an additional role through the program to help the public even after incidents.
“Our Chaplains often assist the public during and after the incident. They’ve followed up with families for emotional support, helped them find resources, helped find pastoral services for funerals, helped coordinate emergency stays at the local hotel in Kasson, etc.,” Rose said.
The reality, Rose pointed out, is that now more than ever, law enforcement  agencies need counseling resources and guidance.
Through the Chaplain program, Dodge County has gained that.
“Today more than ever before law enforcement  agencies need a resource for guidance, counseling and assistance to their officers, their families and their communities. The burden these officers take on can tremendously affect the officer’s family, too - often the forgotten victims,” Rose said. “The officer’s own clergy person or religious advisor, although trained in the ministry, likely doesn’t have a good understanding  of the particular problems law enforcement officers face.
In such cases, this is where a chaplain can listen with empathy, advise calmly and offer assistance when such assistance is appropriate,” he went on to say.
Overall, Rose said, that he is very pleased with how the first year of the program went.
“I am very happy with the success in the first year,” Rose said. “They’ve been incredible,” he added.
Although Rose is very happy with the amount of ministers that have been committed to the program, they also hope to gain some more in certain parts of the county.
“Our program could still use more support in the Hayfield and Claremont areas to help respond to calls. The requirement is to be a minister with at least five years of experience, and the willingness to be available to respond to any situation where a Chaplain’s presence may be needed,” Rose stated.
The Chaplains meet monthly for training at the sheriff’s office in Mantorville.
For more information,  contact Sgt. Boerner at 507-635-6200 or by email at Shannon.boerner@co.dodge.mn.us.

*/

*/