Chaplains officially sworn-in for service
Program helps bridge gap between community and law enforcement
Eight chaplains were sworn in to assist the Asbury Park Police Department at a ceremony held during the Aug. 20 Asbury Park City Council meeting.
They are Brian Major, Greg Hopson, Mark White, Rabbi Ilan Schanow, Audley Largie, Farah Major and Lyddale Akins.
The chaplaincy program got its start through the Asbury Park Community Development Initiative [CDI] three years ago and requires all chaplains go through a formal training before they are certified and deputized, according to Tom Huth, assistant prosecutor of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and co-chair of the CDI.
The chaplains volunteer to help with law enforcement in the city, Huth said, notifying civilian’s family members of deaths — whether due to an automobile accidents or crime-related incident — and ride along with on-duty police officers.
When juveniles are arrested, chaplains participate as a third party in stationhouse adjustments, an early intervention program for youth offenders, he said.
They also act as community liaisons to help solve issues and can conduct interventions when the threat of retalation from a crime is threatened, said Huth.
Huth credited Pastor Lyddale Akins, pastor of Triumphant Life Church, as the person who led the program and oversaw the certification process.
“He is the real shaker and mover behind the chaplancy program,” Huth said.
“What we have here is an invaluable tool,” said Huth. “It took a long time in the making and it would not be possible were it not for the volunteer participation of the chaplains.”
“I would like to thank each and every one of you,” said Mayor Myra Campbell, who co-chairs the CDI. “The importance of what you will do when you are out there with police officers, what you will do when you are interfacing with the community, it is this type of thing that I believe … helps us as a community here in Asbury Park.”
[Shown above, from left to right, Brian Major, Farah Major, Greg Hopson, Ilan Schanow and Mark White.]
————————————————————
Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook and Twitter.
