Arkansas State Police wants to offer more spiritual and practical support to first responders and their families.
Part of these efforts include 86 chaplains who recently completed training that will prepare them to serve as trusted resources for wellness, resilience, and spiritual care to law enforcement agencies across Arkansas.
The Arkansas Department of Public Safety (DPS), in partnership with the Division on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (ADLEST) and Arkansas State Police (ASP), organized the rigorous 40-hour training course, which is required to certify law enforcement chaplains, according to a news release.
The curriculum emphasized critical areas unique to the profession, including:
• Recognition and reduction of stress and burnout in law enforcement
• Death notification protocols
• Suicide awareness and prevention
• Responding to callouts and critical incidents
• Family support and crisis care
“This statewide chaplain program is a vital investment in the emotional and spiritual health of law enforcement officers and their families,” said Dr. Chris Clem, DPS Director of Research, Planning and Leadership Development.
“Chaplains bring presence, peace, and perspective in some of our most difficult moments. Their support strengthens our officers from the inside out – and that strength ripples into the communities we serve.”
Clem is also a founding member of the POLAR (Performance Optimization, Leadership, and Resilience) Program.
The DPS program promotes good health – both physical and emotional – while maximizing performance and leadership at work and home.
ASP Sgt. Chuck Lewis, Supervisor of POLAR explained, “This program is about more than crisis response – it’s about building trust. Our chaplains walk beside officers and their families, offering spiritual grounding, leadership support, and a bridge to the local community. When officers feel seen, heard, and supported, they serve with greater strength and deeper purpose.”
Arkansas law enforcement agencies may begin hearing directly from certified chaplains in the coming weeks as they step into service roles.
In addition to the chaplaincy program, DPS is launching an initiative to train 100 peer-to-peer law enforcement officers statewide. This program will augment chaplain services by providing free support to fellow first responders.
