[Adopted 5-5-2014 by Ord. No. 1547]
The Borough Commissioners of the Borough of Collingswood may appoint one or more chaplains to the Police and Fire Departments and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Any persons appointed shall be ordained members of the clergy in good standing in the religious body from which they are selected. Said chaplain(s) shall become a member of the Borough Police or Fire Department or the OEM upon appointment.
A. 
The office of chaplain shall serve at the direction of the Chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments and the OEM and their officers, patrolmen, firefighters and their families and the residents of the Borough of Collingswood.
B. 
The chaplain is a staff assistant to the Chiefs of the respective departments and may be consulted for any purpose as provided herein by the Chief or other designated supervisors. All communications between the chaplain and all members of the Police and Fire Departments and the OEM, whether of a personal or professional nature, will be considered to be confidential.
C. 
The chaplain shall be a member of the Police or Fire Department or the OEM of the Borough of Collingswood upon appointment and shall be considered to be a volunteer.
D. 
The chaplain shall be an assistant to the Chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments or the OEM and is authorized to act on their behalf as directed. While performing the responsibilities authorized herein, the chaplain shall identify himself or herself as such and shall conduct himself or herself in a manner becoming his or her position and denomination.
A. 
The chaplain shall perform the following duties and such other duties that may be requested by the Chiefs of the Police, Fire and OEM Departments:
(1) 
Assist Police, Fire or OEM Department officials in notifying the families of officers who sustain serious injury or are killed in the line of duty.
(2) 
Respond to the hospital where an injured officer has been hospitalized, when requested to do so, and coordinate with hospital staff and the hospital chaplain to provide assistance to the officer and his or her family in accordance with hospital procedures.
(3) 
Visit sick or injured police, fire or OEM personnel at home or in the hospital.
(4) 
Attend and participate in funerals of active and retired members of the Police and Fire Departments and the OEM.
(5) 
Be available to counsel officers and firefighters pursuant to their requests.
(6) 
Conduct memorial services.
(7) 
Participate in in-service training programs.
(8) 
Attend departmental graduations, promotions, award ceremonies and other invocations and benedictions.
(9) 
Assist in programs and plans for youthful offenders as needed.
(10) 
Assist with departmental public relations.
(11) 
Notify an officer's regular clergy in case of a death or serious injury as soon as possible.
(12) 
Assist officers and their families with referrals for additional counseling as needed.
(13) 
Under the direction of the fire/police/OEM, respond to incidents within the community to counsel civilians in the event of a small- or large-scale incident, event or tragedy.
B. 
Any written record the chaplain considers to be necessary in the performance of his or her duties or as otherwise required needed for future assistance to officers and their families shall remain confidential in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
C. 
The chaplain shall meet regularly, and no less than semiannually, with the Chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments and the OEM and superior officers for ongoing evaluation, development of programs and discussion of departmental morale.
The chaplain shall be required to maintain a working knowledge of the duties of law enforcement officers, firefighters and the OEM and shall remain informed of new public safety procedures and attend training sessions and programs. In addition, the chaplain shall comply with the following procedures:
A. 
The chaplain shall conform to all police, fire and OEM procedures and department regulations as determined to be applicable by the Chiefs.
B. 
The chaplain shall be available by telephone to the Chiefs of Police, Fire and OEM, their designated representatives and department dispatchers.
C. 
The chaplain shall not publicly comment on any law enforcement officer, department official or any departmental policies or actions.
D. 
The chaplain shall not release any information to the public without the prior approval of the Chiefs of Police, Fire and OEM and the person or officers involved.