When you gave me Jesus

I was deeply moved! I was attending the national training seminar for law enforcement chaplains in Lexington, Ky., with the International Conference of Police Chaplains when the keynote speaker for the memorial service walked to the microphone. Ashley Behn had experienced the death of her brother, a police officer, while he was attempting to police a drug disturbance; and with emotion in her voice, she shared her reaction to all that happened.

When the officer bearing the death notification knocked on her mother's door, she and all of the others present who were celebrating a birthday party knew immediately what it meant. During the aftermath -- with police cars all over the place, food and supplies filling the driveway (with even refrigerators for cooling) and a tremendous outpouring of sympathy and support -- Ashley had to grow up fast. It was a tough time.

But it was her response to the question about what helped her the most during this time of emotional crisis that moved me. While not wanting to offend anyone, she turned to the more than 450 people present with tears in her eyes and said: "The single thing that helped me most was when you gave me Jesus." She continued by pointing out that, while her brother had given his life protecting others, Jesus gave his life in order to save all who turn to him for support and salvation. Jesus suffered horribly upon a cross to take upon himself the sins, pains and emotional grief that people here on earth continue to face.

I am sure that most of you are aware that law enforcement chaplains are committed to helping everyone regardless of their religious convictions (or no religious conviction), and this sometimes hides their own basic religious convictions. Ashley looked those chaplains straight in their faces and declared that the single most important thing they could do for those who hurt is to give them Jesus. She said she now has seven children and all of them who are old enough know Jesus personally, and that her 3-year-old even speaks his name with reverence. You don't hear that much anymore, but it resonated with the chaplains present and they gave her a long, standing ovation.

The memorial service this year recognized 121 law enforcement officers, 26 K-9 dogs and six chaplains who died during the year of May 2017 through May 2018. As their names were scrolled across the screen, people from their state stood and lifted up a lighted candle in their memory. I and two others stood recognizing the deaths of the two law enforcement officers from Arkansas who made the ultimate sacrifice: Lt. Patrick Neal Weatherford (age 41) who was shot and killed while investigating a vehicle larceny; and Deputy Sheriff Timothy Allen Braden (age 29) who was killed in a vehicle crash while pursuing a vehicle. In addition to the United States, there were five other nations involved (Bermuda, Canada, Jamaica, Kenya and Malawi), with attendees standing to honor the officers from each state and country.

With a complete list of all of the officers who died during the past year in hand, I began to go through the list and to make note of the manner in which most of them had died. In Kenya, a large number were killed by bandits and drug lords (not a good place for law officers); but in the other areas, too many were killed while involved with vehicles. Some were on the way responding to an incident or to back up a fellow officer when they were involved in a vehicle accident and were killed. Others were shot during the fulfillment of their responsibilities. One of the most disturbing revelations involving these officers was their ages. Too many were young (20 to 40 years old), their lives cut short as they obeyed the challenge of their badges.

All of us are acutely aware of the many shootings in our schools, churches and public places; but I was surprised to learn that our country did not even make the top twenty countries involved with shootings. The media does not report all that happens in the world.

There were around 450 people who attended this ATS from all across the United States and five other countries. Even Alaska had people in attendance. Many were there for the first time, learning the basics about law enforcement chaplaincy; others were there taking advanced courses. I was proud to be a part of this elite group and to recognize that the future of law enforcement chaplaincy is going to be in good hands.

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Robert Box is the former chaplain for the Bella Vista Police Department and is currently the fire department chaplain. Opinions expressed are those of the author.