To achieve

this designation, a law enforcement chaplain must have a

denominational endorsement, be recommended by the head of

the agency, have a minimum of 10 years experience as a

chaplain, complete several hundred hours of in-service

training, have at least five years pastoral experience,

submit a master's certification paper and be interviewed

Epps has

served as chaplain for the Peachtree City Police

Department for more than 10 years and also serves the

Fayette County Sheriff's Department, the Fulton County

Public Safety Training Center and the Senoia Police

Department. Formerly, he served as chaplain for the

Atlanta Division of the FBI.

In addition

to earning undergraduate and graduate degrees, Epps was

the Honor Graduate from the Fulton County Public Safety

Training Center and is certified and sworn as a peace

officer by the Georgia Peace officer's Standards and

Training Council (POST). He also is certified by POST as

a chaplain, as a general instructor, and as a defensive

tactics instructor, and was awarded a ribbon for each

certification. He also has held ICPC designation as a

Certified Basic Chaplain and as a Certified Senior

Chaplain.

Epps is

qualified in firearms as a "master" with the

9mm automatic pistol. He also is certified as an

instructor of the expandable tactical baton and regularly

instructs other police officers.

He attended

the FBI Chaplain's School in Quantico, Va. and received a

certificate in Advanced Pastoral Studies in the Field of

Law Enforcement Chaplaincy from the Academy of Parish

Clergy. He received his field training, with the

endorsement of Fayette County Sheriff Randall Johnson, at

the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Johnson

also swore Epps in as one of the few reserve deputy

sheriffs in Fayette County with full police powers.

Epps was

brought into the chaplain's ministry by the Rev. John

Weber, Public Safety chaplain in Peachtree City and

pastor of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church. "John

is the perfect example of a caring and competent

chaplain," Epps said. "I first encountered his

ministry in 1984 when my nine-year-old son was run over

through that difficult time over the next several weeks.

I was on the receiving end of chaplain ministry before I

ever began to give to that ministry."

Chaplains

ride with the police, may be called to the scene of

tragedies, counsel police personnel, deliver death

notifications, become involved in domestic violence

situations, conduct police funerals, perform weddings and

baptisms, make hospital visits, serve as the official

"pray-er" at functions, and take care of a host

of other responsibilities. Epps was called during the

recent mass murder in Atlanta to minister to the families

of victims.

Epps

insists that his volunteer duties do not hinder him in

his other role as the founding pastor of Christ the King

Episcopal Church (CEC). "The church is my life but I

also love and respect the police in our community,"

he says. "This is my service to those who serve

us."

Unlike most

non-police-officer chaplains, Epps says his training

enables him to serve as a valuable assistant to officers

as needed. He has served as a witness in court, has made

arrests, and has participated with a SWAT/drug

enforcement team in a drug raid.

"I

have to admit that my mouth was pretty dry that

night," Epps said. "It had been a long time

since I had been in the Marine Corps and I wasn't sure I

would be up to a combat type situation. But the deputies

are extremely competent and the raids-two that

night-ended successfully with no one hurt."

Epps, who

has more than 900 hours of police training behind him,

also teaches ethics and management and supervision at the

police academy.

While the

chaplain reports directly to the head of the agency, he

is required to maintain strict confidentiality at all

times. "Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray is

especially helpful in this area," Epps says.

"As a Roman Catholic, he understands the sanctity of

the confessional. He has never asked me to reveal a

confidence shared by an officer. This trust must be

present in order for the chaplain to function

effectively."

In 1993,

the officers of the Peachtree City Police Department

voted Epps the Volunteer of the Year. And recently,

Senoia Police Chief Ben Thomas asked Epps to develop a

chaplain's program for Senoia.

Epps says

his participation with the police may have had an

influence on the careers of his sons. His oldest son

graduated from college, became a Peachtree City police

officer, and now serves as a detective. His middle son

worked as a police officer for several agencies before

becoming self-employed. His youngest son is in the U.S.

Air Force with a top secret security clearance, preparing

for work that involves national security.

Earlier

this year, Epps was designated as Canon to the Ordinary

for the Diocese of the Armed Forces, and was given the

task of helping to develop police and state guard

chaplaincies nationwide for his denomination.

"I

wish people could see what I see," Epps says.

"If they could, they would thank God every day for

the men and women who patrol our streets and keep society

safe. It is an honor to serve with them in this small

way."

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