The Spokane Police Chaplaincy Program serves the Spokane Police Department officers, support staff, and individual members of the community in the City of Spokane. The Spokane Police Chaplaincy is not-for-profit 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your support of the Spokane Police Chaplaincy!
CHAPLAIN - Beth Wilson
Chaplain Beth Wilson has lived in Spokane since 1967 and attended University High School and Kinman Business University. Spokane is home for Chaplain Wilson. She has three married children and five grandchildren all living in the Spokane area.
Chaplain Wilson has been involved in Spokane Police Chaplaincy since November of 1994 when she began serving as a volunteer. Chaplain Wilson was blessed with the opportunity to serve side-by-side with veteran Police Chaplains. She would respond with them on calls and observed as they gave her a clear understanding of “on scene support” and “compassionate care”. Chaplain Wilson had just finished her 14th year at East Valley School District when she was hired as a full time chaplain in 2001. In July of 2012, she was appointed as the Senior Chaplain for the Spokane Police Department.
Over the last 19 years of her professional career, Chaplain Wilson has been trained and certified in the following areas specific to Law Enforcement Chaplaincy.
Attended the Citizens Academy in 1994
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Obtained an AA in Law Enforcement Chaplaincy from Trinity Biblical University
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Participated in the Reserve Academy in 2003
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Serves on a Disaster Response Team and Mass Fatality Response Team
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A valued member of the SPD Personnel Assistance Team (PAT)
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Works closely with the Hostage Negotiators
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Formal training and extensive experience in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
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Earned Master Certification from International Conference of Police Chaplains
Chaplain Wilson believes in Police Chaplaincy and has a passion and calling for the mission of ministering to the men and women of Law Enforcement. She believes chaplaincy is a unique ministry delivering committed service to law enforcement personnel and their families. This commitment also applies to assisting citizens in the community experiencing various crises.
CHAPLAIN-Ed Hoffman
Chaplain Ed Hoffman is a lifetime resident of Spokane and attended Trinity Catholic School, North Central High School, Spokane Community College and Whitworth University. Chaplain Hoffman has been married to his wife Kim for more than 22 years. They have two dogs, Wren and Jenny.
Chaplain Hoffman came to us from Life Center Foursquare Church where he served for the last seven years, more than five of those as a staff pastor. He also served in various other ministries, Outreach, Men’s Ministry, High School Ministry, and Children’s Ministry where he served as the 3rd-5th grade pastor the last four years.
Chaplain Hoffman has been serving in Spokane Police Chaplaincy for nearly three years, has logged numerous hours riding with officers, responded to multiple call outs, and was awarded the 2012 Chaplain of the Year Award. In July 2012, Chaplain Hoffman accepted an offer to join Spokane Police Chaplaincy as one of our two full time chaplains serving under the Spokane Police Chaplaincy Board. Chaplain Hoffman is a member of the SPD Personnel Assistance Team (P.A.T.) and a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains (I.C.P.C.). He is also trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (C.I.S.M) and Crisis Intervention Training (C.I.T.).
How I got involved:
We had a member of the Life Center church family call in need of pastoral support; her son had just committed suicide. The scene was heavy with grief and to be honest all I knew to do was pray for this family and those on scene. Chaplain Wilson was present and served the family and officers as a “ministry of presence” but also as a go between to provide answers for this hurting family. On that day I was given a glimpse into the role of a Law Enforcement Chaplain.
I thought since I had family and friends on the Spokane Police Department, I would proceed to learn more about Police Chaplaincy and began volunteering. Today, I serve the men and women of the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane community through my new ministry as a Police Chaplain.
CHAPLAIN - Denny Klaja
Chaplain Denny Klaja has been a resident of Spokane since moving here from the Midwest in 1977. Chaplain Klaja has been married to his lovely wife Linda of 40 years. His family includes a son and daughter-in-law living in Seattle with their two boys (their awesome grandkids!) Chaplain Klaja’s daughter is finishing her Masters degree in Oregon in vocational rehab with an emphasis in deafness.
Chaplain Klaja is the founding pastor of Life River Fellowship in Spokane which started 14 years ago.
How I became involved in Police Chaplaincy
My brother-in-law was an officer and he was killed about 25 years ago in the Midwest. Trying to minister to my sister and my nephew as they grieved was what planted the seed of compassion in my heart for officers and their families. I’ve been with the Spokane Police Department for almost 10 years.
I’m involved in chaplaincy because it gives me a unique opportunity to minster not only to officers, but also to the general public. Police officers have a very unique career or “calling” if you will, and with it come unique issues. It takes a special person to be an officer, and I esteem their hearts to serve our community, and my heart is to “come under” them and serve them with whatever support I can offer, whether it’s a shoulder to cry on, a prayer request, a confidant with a serious issue, or just a ministry of presence on a scene. Over the years I’ve had the distinct privilege of “being there” at times of rejoicing as well as times of crisis. I count this an honor. There are also the times to minister to the public in tragic, unexpected losses which have always been what I call Divine appointments, as I believe God has specifically sent me as His ambassador for healing to a broken or hurting individual or family.
Life is filled with the unexpected; both wonderful and tragic. Just as Christ comes to me when I’m hurting, I want to be His representative to those who are hurting and broken. Our chaplains have ministered to literally thousands of hurting officers and people in our city, and I believe our city is a lot better off spiritually and physically because of these God called servants.
CHAPLAIN- Ray Flood
Ray Flood is 72 years young , and married to his beautiful wife Julie and has been since June 1961. They have four children Donna, Patrick, Nichole, and Chinelle. We have a dog named Patches.
How he became involved with chaplaincy:
Ray is an Associate Pastor with Spokane Faith Center and has been pastoring since July 2008. A letter from the lead chaplain came to the church office a couple of years ago, and the pastor said” let’s do this thing.” It’s like getting volluntold.
He keeps doing chaplaincy because he believes chaplaincy is what God wants from him, and he love making a difference even if it is just a little difference.
Ray would say to any prospective chaplains that the great hours and good pay make it all worthwhile. Having an officer shake your hand and saying thanks it means a lot having you on scene; or having a civilian give you a hug and saying thanks, he had no idea where to start and your prayer was just what I needed, this really makes the hours trivial.
CHAPLAIN-John Anderson
CHAPLAIN-Lonnie Mitchell
CHAPLAIN-Alec Gonzales
Alec Gonzales is 50 years old, and very happily married to his wife of 28 years Lynda. They have one adult son Teddy and an 11 year old bird-dog Ryder, who joins him on hunting adventures.
After moving to Spokane in 1989, they joined a small but growing church called Life Center.
In 2007, he started planning West Central Life, a daughter church of Life Center Foursquare Church. He began meeting at the COPS West building for Sunday service in 2008 and a natural relationship with the Spokane Police Department began. Besides Sunday service, the congregation also does outreach work in the West Central neighborhood and work to strengthen the affiliation with COPS Spokane.
Alec began to feel a call to minister to the men and women of the Spokane Police Department. Initially he began to pray for the police department and let officers he knew that he was praying for them. In April 2012, Alec received an invitation to receive training for crisis and disaster response taught by a chaplain in the Seattle area. As he spoke and shared his work as a chaplain Alec’s mind went back to Spokane and how he may be able to serve the SPD.
Upon returning to Spokane, he contacted the Spokane Police Chaplaincy and began the process of joining the chaplaincy program. Today, Alec joyfully serves the men and women of the Spokane Police Department as a dedicated volunteer Police Chaplain and enjoys serving in any way possible and tries to ride with officers at least twice a month.
CHAPLAIN - Debbie Junes
Chaplain Junes has been selected as the Chaplain of the Year for her dedication to our officers. Earlier in the year, it appeared that Debbie was dying of heart failure, but the Lord wasn’t ready for her. She rallied and came back to serve once again. WHAT A TROOPER!!!
CHAPLAIN - Rustin Rathbun Rustin comes to us from the Asotin County Sheriff’s Department, where he served as their chaplain. He has been very busy, but is always willing to come out on calls. I have never seen enjoy life and going out on calls like Rustin. Rustin has served as a pastor but now manages a mobile home park with his wife.
CHAPLAIN-Mickey Tuter
CHAPLAIN-John Solomon
CHAPLAIN-Ron Alter