The Fresno City Council on Thursday recognized the volunteer group of chaplains who ride alongside the city’s police and fire departments staffers, offering comfort and prayer to both citizens and first responders.
Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi said the roughly 50 volunteers who accompany the Fresno Police and Fire Chaplaincy first responders provide spiritual solace for people in need.
“Having someone there who is a neutral party, who has a kind heart and a shoulder to cry on, is essential,” Karbassi said.
Chaplains Offer More than Prayer, Comfort
Chaplains typically take on two 12-hour shifts a month and attend one monthly training meeting, according to the organization’s website.
“We serve silently, we serve behind the scenes — over 1,500 times last year there was a family in need or an officer in need, and one of these amazing people here responded,” said Matthew Markarian, executive director of the chaplaincy. “They volunteer their time to go into people’s homes and sit there after they’ve probably experienced the worst day of their life — they’ve lost a loved one or some trauma has occurred.”
Their service goes beyond just the shift and includes follow-up care, said Fresno Deputy Police Chief Burke Farrah. He said chaplains stay behind with families after officers have to leave to respond to other calls, providing a different kind of care.
“The work you’re doing with at-risk youth, runaways, I could just go on and on about these folks, it’s amazing what they do,” Farrah said.
The organization recently merged the police and fire units.
Deputy Fire Chief Devin McGuire said when the Red Cross couldn’t help one family, chaplains found a place for them to stay.
They also care for first responders’ needs, said Councilmembers Nick Richardson.
“It’s very easy in a high-stress job to focus on your body and your mind and that is it,” Richardson said. “It’s hard to be reminded sometimes that there is more to the human, to the person in those stressful situations than just the body and the mind and it’s folks like this … who can remind us of that.”