Frequently Asked Questions – Utah Law Enforcement Chaplain Foundation

Answers to common questions about law enforcement chaplains in Utah. Links go to the original sources so you can read the details yourself. This page is generated using Claude and could have errors. It is not legal advice.

What is a law enforcement chaplain?

A law enforcement chaplain is a trained volunteer, usually a member of the clergy, who is appointed by a police department, sheriff’s office, or other agency to support its people. The International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC), founded in 1973, is the main professional association for this work. About ICPC.

What does a chaplain actually do?

Most of the work is quiet presence: riding along, checking in after hard calls, and being available day or night. Typical duties include:

Support for officers, dispatchers, civilian staff, and their families
Going with officers on death and serious-injury notifications
Responding to critical incidents, hospital visits, and line-of-duty injuries or deaths
Referrals to professional counseling and other resources
Invocations and other roles at graduations, ceremonies, funerals, and memorials

These duties come from the IACP’s guidance on police chaplains and from Utah agencies such as the Unified Police Department and the Weber County Sheriff’s Office.

Do chaplains preach or try to convert people?

No. The ICPC Canons of Ethics say a chaplain “is not to use the chaplaincy to proselytize.” The IACP puts it this way: a chaplain’s role “is to serve,” without advocating any religion. Chaplains serve people of every faith and of none.

Are chaplains police officers? Do they carry weapons?

No. Chaplains are not sworn officers, and the IACP says they “will not carry weapons including firearms” and should not identify themselves as sworn members. Agencies usually give chaplains clothing marked “Chaplain” and an agency ID so they are easy to tell apart from officers.

Does a chaplain have to be ordained clergy?

Utah law does not require it. We found no Utah statute or Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) rule that addresses law enforcement chaplains. Requirements come from each agency and from professional standards, and they vary:

The Unified Police Department requires chaplains to be licensed or ordained clergy.
The Weber County Sheriff’s Office asks for five years of counseling experience and does not list ordination.
The IACP says candidates should be ecclesiastically certified, licensed, ordained, or appointed, and endorsed by their faith group.
ICPC full membership requires ecclesiastical endorsement or clergy certification and at least five years of pastoral, educational, or counseling ministry. ICPC offers an associate membership for appointed chaplains who lack them, though only full members can apply for ICPC credentials (ICPC membership types).

Is what I tell a chaplain confidential?

Often, but not always. Several Utah rules can apply:

Clergy privilege. Utah Rule of Evidence 503 protects confidential communications made to a cleric in the cleric’s religious capacity when they are necessary and proper to the cleric’s spiritual role. The rule’s advisory committee note says this includes lay clerics. Conversations with a chaplain acting in a non-religious role are not covered. Utah Code 78B-1-137(3) separately protects confessions made to clergy in the course of discipline required by their church.
Peer support privilege. Under Utah Code 78B-5-902 and 78B-5-903, a volunteer member of a law enforcement agency who completes a POST-approved peer support training program and is designated by the sheriff, police chief, or another agency head named in the statute can be a peer support team member. A team member may refuse to disclose what is said in individual peer support conversations, but only while acting as a team member and following the agency’s written peer support guidelines, and subject to the limits below.
Limits. The peer support privilege does not apply when the team member was a witness or a party to the incident, when the information suggests actual or suspected child abuse or neglect, when the person is a clear and immediate danger to themselves or others, when there is reasonable cause to believe the person is mentally or emotionally unfit for duty, or when what the person says is evidence that they have committed, plan to commit, or intend to conceal a crime.
Child abuse. Anyone in Utah who has reason to believe a child has been abused or neglected must report it immediately to the Division of Child and Family Services or to law enforcement. Under Utah Code 80-2-602, a member of the clergy is excused only for a confession made directly by the perpetrator while the clergy member is functioning in a ministerial capacity, and only if the clergy member’s faith requires keeping that confession confidential. Even then, a clergy member who reasonably believes the abuse or neglect is ongoing may report it. Anything learned any other way must be reported. A chaplain who is not clergy, or whose faith does not require confidentiality, should assume the exception does not apply.

A good chaplain will tell you at the start of a conversation where confidentiality ends. This page gives general information about Utah law as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Agencies should review their program with their own legal counsel.

Are chaplains paid?

Utah law enforcement chaplains are typically unpaid volunteers. Under Utah’s Volunteer Government Workers Act, a volunteer whose service has been approved by the agency’s chief executive or an authorized representative (Utah Code 67-20-4) is considered a government employee for two purposes. First, they receive workers’ compensation medical benefits, which are their exclusive remedy for injuries on duty. Second, they receive the liability protection and indemnification given a paid government employee (Utah Code 67-20-3). A volunteer can also receive agency-approved uniforms and identification used only while volunteering, plus reimbursement for related training, without losing volunteer status (Utah Code 67-20-2).

What training do chaplains receive?

Agencies set their own training, and many chaplains follow the ICPC curriculum. ICPC’s ten Basic courses cover law enforcement chaplaincy, legal aspects, the law enforcement family, stress, call-outs, suicide, agency incidents, death notification, and self-care. ICPC offers credentials at the Basic, Senior, Master, Diplomate, and Fellow levels, plus a Liaison credential for the officer or staff member who coordinates a program (ICPC credentials). Courses are offered online, at regional seminars, and at ICPC’s annual training seminar.

How is a chaplain different from a therapist or a peer support team?

A therapist provides clinical treatment. Peer support team members are trained coworkers who have walked the same road. A chaplain offers spiritual care and steady presence and connects people to both. Utah requires every first responder agency to provide or make available mental health resources, which state law defines to include assessment and outpatient treatment by a licensed mental health therapist and services from a qualified peer support specialist (Utah Code 53-21-102 and 53-21-101). Chaplains work alongside those resources.

I’m an officer and I need to talk to someone now. Where can I go?

SafeUT Frontline: a free app with 24/7 chat or call with licensed clinicians, for law enforcement, corrections, dispatch, fire and EMS, health care workers, and their families.
Call or text 988, Utah’s crisis line (first responder resources).
Your agency’s chaplain, peer support team, or designated mental health resources liaison.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

How can I find out whether my agency has a chaplain?

Ask your chief, sheriff, or command staff. You can also check our chaplain directory, which lists chaplains named in public sources. Many agencies have chaplains who have never been named publicly.

My agency wants to start a chaplain program. Where do we begin?

Start with our start-up guide, then contact us. We can connect you with Utah chaplains who have built programs.

What does the foundation do?

The Utah Law Enforcement Chaplain Foundation supports chaplains and the agencies they serve: helping chaplains get training and certification, supporting care for officers and families, and connecting chaplains across the state.

Are donations tax-deductible?

The Utah Law Enforcement Chaplain Foundation is a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN 41-4363466). Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

I found an error in the directory. How do I fix it?

Contact us with the chaplain’s name, agency, and a link to a public source if you have one. If you are listed and would rather not be, we will remove the listing.

Last reviewed October 24, 2026.