Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff's chaplains ask Sandoval County for $15,000 annual support; commissioners signal backing
Summary
Volunteers in the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Program requested $15,000 annually to cover training, uniforms and grief support; commissioners praised the program and indicated support during the hearing but no formal appropriation was recorded in the transcript.
Jeff Carr, lead chaplain for the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Program, asked the commission April 22 for a modest annual appropriation of $15,000 to support the volunteer team's training, uniforms and counseling resources.
Carr outlined the program's responsibilities: crisis response and emotional support for deputies, first responders and families during major incidents, death notifications, and wellness and morale support for dispatchers and deputies. He said the volunteer chaplain team consists of 11 active members and that the group provides services such as free state-dinner recognition events and peer support during traumatic incidents. Carr described recent responses that included homicides and drowning incidents where chaplains assisted families and first responders.
Commissioner Jones thanked the chaplains and said she would support the request. Vice Chair Hurst and Commissioner Brook echoed that support and asked clarifying questions about team size and services. County Manager Johnson noted chaplains also support telecommunicators and stressed the mental-health value of their work. Commissioners expressed appreciation and indicated they would try to accommodate the funding request.
No formal appropriation vote is recorded in the transcript excerpt provided; commissioners signaled support during the presentation and Q&A.
