By Brandi Makuski

“The Stevens Point Police Chaplains group has officially been retired, as of today,” Sgt. Tony Zblewski announced to a roomful of chaplains, police officers and support personnel on April 7.

“But in its place is something bigger, something better,” he quickly added. “So this is also the first meeting of the Portage County Emergency Services Chaplain Group.”

Law enforcement stands with the chaplains. “They’re as much a part of the team as anyone,” Sgt. Tony Zblewski said of the group. (City Times photo)

Originally the brainchild of SPPD Chief Martin Skibba some 20 years ago, the program is comprised of clergy from various faiths, providing police with on-call chaplain services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The chaplains provide religious comfort and counseling in times of great stress, but they also offer a deeper element of camaraderie for emergency workers who regularly put their own lives in danger.

“There are some officers who are very religious, but not all of them,” said David Ficken, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, at the 2016 SPPD annual recognition dinner. “Sometimes, we just shoot the breeze, or lend an ear.”

As many law enforcement traditions resting heavily on ceremony, Zblewski said the name change is an important distinction — one that solidifies its place within all emergency services departments across the county.

“This is something open to law enforcement officers throughout the entire county, as well as those employed in the fire service, EMS and dispatch,” Zblewski said to the chaplains on April 7, when the group received new name badges and uniforms. “You folks are providing a service for us that is priceless, and we want to continue that and pass that on to all the other local law enforcement departments.”

Plover Police Chief Dan Ault said his department welcomed the new program “with open arms”.

“We’d love to see you as much as possible — we already know you folks won’t wait for an emergency situation before you show your faces,” Ault said. “Sincerely, thank you all for doing this.”

Ault also said without the leadership from Stevens Point police, the new program would never have been formally expanded countywide.

“I’m not sure we’ve be in the same spot without that leadership; just know it’s not forgotten, where this [group] originated,” he said.

Zblewski said chaplains will also have more of a public face at future social events sponsored by law enforcement, to include Cops and Bobbers, the annual walleye tournament sponsored by Stevens Point police, Special Olympics and other events. But their primary function remains support for local emergency services.

“In the last two weeks, I don’t think the need for chaplains was ever greater,” Zblewski said. “At the funeral, the wake and all the things we did for Det. [Jason] Weiland, the presence of the Lord, I think, was very strong for all of us, and got us through that. I think we’ll continue to need that strength. Agencies around the world have chaplains on board, and for a reason.”

Members of the Portage County Emergency Services Chaplain Group include Ficken, Robert Terrell, Pastor Doug Schneider, Pastor Gary Akright, Pastor David Guerrero, Pastor Matthew J. Mallek and Pastor Susan Gilbert Zencka.