GCPD Chaplains

What is a Police Chaplain?

    • A law enforcement chaplain is a clergy person with a passionate interest in law enforcement officers.  
    • We’ve received specialized training for support in the world of law enforcement.  
    • The law enforcement chaplain is always available and willing to serve the department.  
    • The chaplain’s ministry provides support to the law enforcement officers and their families.
    • ...as well as other department members – and members of the community.


Granite City Police Department Chaplain’s Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Chaplains of the Granite City Police Department to serve the citizens of the City of Granite City and all sworn and non-sworn personnel of the Police Department by providing effective chaplain service. The Chaplains pledge support to the mission of the Granite City Police Department. The goals of effective chaplain service are:

To offer moral direction and spiritual guidance to department personnel:
    • By offering pastoral care to those in need, regardless of race, gender, creed or religion
    • By giving aid and comfort in times of crisis to police personnel and their families.

To provide service and support to the department and its personnel on a 24 hour basis;
    • By offering encouragement, support, and a confidential source of consultation
    • By assisting at the scenes of critical incidents upon request
    • By educating themselves and police personnel on stress management and ethics
    • By visiting the sick and injured of the department
    • By providing debriefing and defusing after critical incidents

To promote group or individual counseling to all personnel as requested
    • By offering individual advice and guidance to personnel or families in crisis
    • By identifying and referring personnel in distress to other professional services

To enhance the image of the police department in the community it serves
    • By acting as goodwill ambassadors for the police department
    • By serving as liaison with other clergy
    • By bridging the community and the police department in difficult times
    • By fostering relationships within the whole community
    • By providing their perspective into difficult issues that face the department

Currently there are three volunteer Chaplains serving the Granite City Police Department:

John Gamblin

618-876-7221

gbcjgamblin@charter.net

Mark Maynard

618-931-0342

for-mark@juno.com

Rich Cope

618-931-1565

richcope@citytempleag.org