Police chaplains help officers, victims of crime

Deacon John Zurek was interviewed as part of an article Joe Ruff wrote for the The Catholic Voice on Police Chaplains as the issue also looked at how "Police officers turn to God in stressful job." Here is part of that article:

Police officers have to be tough, decisive and in control.

But they face difficult emotional situations that can challenge their ability to do their job, such as telling family members a loved one has been killed or investigating the death of a child who is the same age as their own daughter or son.

That is where police chaplains can help.

Chaplains ease the burden on officers by helping them deliver hard news to the families of victims, spending time with those families on the religious and emotional aspects of tragedy - and being available for the officers themselves, said Deacon John Zurek of St. Columbkille Parish in Papillion.

"Our primary goal is to take care of the officers," said Deacon Zurek, who is a chaplain with the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office and the Bellevue police and fire departments. "They're supposed to be macho, nothing can hurt them. But I've had a 6-foot-2 deputy in the field, crying."
 
Click here for the story at The Catholic Voice