Sierra Chaplaincy

Sierra Chaplaincy began in in 1990 when founder Tim Thompson, who was serving as a Law Enforcement Chaplain in Northern California, responded to the need for emotional and spiritual care for law enforcement officers and victims of crime in El Dorado County. The Chaplaincy began as a part-time service, but the need was so great that in 1992 the Sierra Law Enforcement Chaplaincy incorporated and began providing full-time chaplain care to El Dorado County. It was not long until neighboring law enforcement agencies recognized the impact the Chaplaincy was making in the community and in the lives of the officers of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department and wanted to be a part of the chaplaincy. Less than a year after incorporating, the Placerville Police Department, Folsom Police Department, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and the El Dorado County District Attorneys Office began to participate in the chaplaincy. In addition to working with law enforcement agencies, Sierra Chaplaincy expanded to serving the men and women engaged in firefighting.

The Sierra Chaplaincy is a faith based ministry that responds to the needs of victims, and officers regardless of religion, belief, denominational background, or lack thereof. Over the years the chaplaincy has grown to provide services throughout the region. It now sends chaplains trained in caring for individuals in crisis to respond to the needs of sworn personnel serving in law enforcement, as well as crime victims, victims of fatal traffic collisions, emergency medical services, suicide victims, and other coroner cases throughout El Dorado County, Amador County, and the City of Folsom.