The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is pleased to announce that the Reverend Lynden Douglas will serve as chaplain for the Force.
Reverend Douglas was welcomed yesterday (September 26th, 2022) by Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting and Police Welfare Association representative Sgt Jepson Victor, where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed.
The new Chaplain will address the needs of police officers by providing a supportive presence and individual counselling. Some of the responsibilities include:
- Accompanying officers to assist in death notifications and other traumatic events.
- Attending funerals and memorial ceremonies hosted by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
Following the signing, Commissioner Botting thanked Reverend Douglas for his service and commitment.
“The emotional trauma that comes with the job of being a police officer is never easy. My officers face a series of threats daily, coupled with being exposed to gruesome crime scenes and verbal abuse from the public when performing their duties. I am happy that my officers have an outlet where they can seek assistance confidentially and embrace spirituality. This Chaplin programme is welcomed and I urge my officers to embrace it”.
Commenting on this important role, Reverend Douglas said, “Many police officers are on the front-line daily and are exposed to elements of negativity. This profession is demanding and can take a toll on the officer’s mental state. There is no shame in seeking assistance”.
Also commenting was the Chairlady of the Police Welfare Association Tammika Lall-Williams.
“We are very pleased to have our very own Chaplin. This is an important role which will see Reverend Douglas working together with officers during times of crisis or incidents and offering the much needed spiritual guidance and counsel”.