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Today we return to police officer JD Pettey to talk about what happens when an officer starts talking during someone else's tragedy and how badly that can go. JD's family has had a number of serious tragedies and he was gracious enough to share those difficult memories with us because each story is an example of cops saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, even when they knew they were talking to a fellow police. Obviously this is a sensitive conversation with discussion of suicide and other tragic deaths, but this is also one of my favorite conversations I've ever had with a police officer. I think it was instructive, insightful, and even funny at times. And we've all been there, when you need just the right words, and instead you put your foot your mouth.

Music is by Alexander Nakarada and by National Sweetheart

Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 132.5

Tags:

Police, Accidents, Assumptions, Communication, Death Notifications, Family, Humor, Jargon, Loss, Professionalism, Suicide, Tragedy, Kansas City, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma

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Today we're talking about Crisis Intervention Teams and the work they do to free up police resources for other jobs. Our guest today is a CIT officer and instructor I met at a training I went to this last year. His name is JD Pettey and he's a thirty year officer with about a decade specifically working with co-responders (the community behavioral health liaisons) to help people in need because of addiction and mental health problems. JD has a tremendous amount of experience and you're going to want to catch what he says is valuable about having officers who specifically specialize in CIT areas.

Music is by Alexander Nakarada

Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 132

Tags:

CIT, Addiction, Army, Career, Co-Responders, Crisis, Mental Health, Police, Psychosis, Substance Abuse, Training, Veterans, Kansas City, Kansas, Missouri

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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168
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In the first part of our conversation with Travis Yates, we talked about cowardly leadership. If you didn't listen to that episode, go back and listen to it right now, it's episode 131. This is the second part of that conversation where we veered off from the cowardly leadership conversation to the more specific conversation of how leadership affects officer safety. And this is something that Travis is really passionate about -- I mean he really gets fired up here. This is really isn't a space for political correctness; we're just kinda telling it like it is. I have these conversations all the time, just not usually with a cop who has a doctorate in this stuff.

Resources:

Travis' website: travisyates.org

Music is by National Sweetheart, by LesFM, and by Chris Haugen

Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 131.5

Tags:

Police, Career, Cowardice, Courage, Leadership; Police Culture, Safety, Tulsa, Oklahoma

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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168
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Following the law should be straightforward and black and white. Following department policy should be the same way. But navigating the murky waters of how to lead and inspire people to do their best work in a competitive and demoralizing environment… well, that's going to take some courage. Our guest today is Travis Yates, who rose up through the police ranks, saw a lot of good and bad leadership, had to practice it himself, and now is ringing the alarm that bad leadership can destroy an agency. Today we're specifically talking about courageous leadership and what it's opposite, cowardly leadership, looks like in a police department.

Resources:

Travis' website: travisyates.org

Music is by Chris Haugen

Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 131

Tags:

Police, Career, Cowardice, Courage, Family, Interviews, Leadership; Police Culture, Politics, Promotions, Ride Alongs, Supervision, Fort Smith, Little Rock, Tulsa, Arkansas, Oklahoma

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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY

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A special guest host interviews Chaplain Altic to recap the year! Police Major Joe Grasela joins Jared to give us a recap of their favorite moments from the 2025 Hey Chaplain episodes. Listen in to find out what were the most noteworthy episodes of the year; also included are the top ten listener countries and cities. And don't miss a sneak peek of what's coming in 2026 and beyond!

Episodes directly referenced in the show:

• Dana Gouge was on episodes 110 and 110.5
• Tim Eggebraaten was on episodes 114 and 114.5
• Todd Hixson was on episodes 107 and 107.5
• Rick James was on episode 120
• Jim Dudley's Halloween episode was Bonus Ep 46
• My solo episode on grief was Bonus Ep 44
• Shenee Davis and Gregg Dorsett were on episodes 126 and 126.5
• Jamison White was on episode 128
• Jake the International Security Specialist Guy was on episode 117

Music is by DJ Williams

Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 130

Tags:

Podcasting, Bagpipes, Career, Chaplains, Copline, DEA, Detectives, Encouragement, Funerals, History, Imposter Syndrome, Listeners, Microphones, Music, Police, RCMP, Recording, Serial Killers, Support, Kansas City, San Francisco, Wichita, California, Kansas, Canada

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Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city.

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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY

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This is our Christmas Bonus Episode for 2025! Today's guest is police chaplain Mark Femmel from St Louis. We're talking about the goodness of police officers, ride alongs, Christmas services at church, and Mark has a special Christmas message for you.

Music is by Audionautix and by Kevin MacLeod

Hey Chaplain Bonus Episode 47

Tags:

Christmas, Chaplains, Church, Holidays, Ministers, Morale, Police, Kansas City, St Louis, Kansas, Missouri

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Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city.

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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168
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When we talk about traumatic experiences, we usually go straight to the shootings and the car accidents, the grisly murders and crimes against children. What often gets left out of that list is getting the threatening lawyer letter that says you're getting sued and whole life is about to be destroyed. Today's guest is police chaplain Mark Clements who has received these letters over and over and over again. Why does someone want to sue him? For being a chaplain in the first place of course. Mark talks about getting sued and why police chaplaincy should NOT be in danger getting shut down for violating the constitution or some other nonsense. But even if you're not connected in any way to the legal and historical argument for law enforcement chaplaincy, I hope you'll listen in to a conversation with someone who has opened those scary lawyer letters… and survived.

Music is by Chris Haugen

Hey Chaplain Podcast Episode 129

Tags:

Chaplaincy, Attorneys, Court, First Amendment, ICPC, Lawsuit, Legality, Ministry, Police, Religious Freedom, Supreme Court, Threats, La Crosse, Mansfield, Wisconsin, Ohio

The hosts and guests, including any discussion of personal legal experiences, lawsuits, constitutional issues, or Supreme Court decisions, are providing general information and commentary, not specific legal counsel.

Listening to this episode, reading the shownotes, or interacting with us does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and any of the hosts, guests, or the Hey Chaplain podcast.

Legal outcomes, including the handling of lawsuits and court decisions, are highly dependent on the specific facts of each case. The discussion of personal experiences or historical court cases may not be applicable to your situation.

If you have a legal issue, have received a lawyer's letter, or need advice regarding constitutional law, please stop listening to podcasts and go consult with a qualified legal professional licensed in your jurisdiction. Do not rely on anything you hear on a podcast as a substitute for competent legal advice.

Hey Chaplain has not received any kind of compensation or benefit from First LIberty Institute and this is not a paid advertisement for First Liberty Institute or any other law firm or legal representation. If you are still very very angry and feel compelled to bring a lawsuit, let me know and maybe I can get you in touch with Chaplain Mark, because he's been waiting for you with bated breath.

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It's mailbag time!

Use the link above to leave a comment or a question and we might use it on a future show!

Music is by Chris Haugen

Hey Chaplain Update Episode 4Q 2025

Tags:

Chaplaincy, Chaplains, Email, Law Enforcement, Mail, Podcasting, Radio, Chicago, Kansas City, Illinois, Kansas

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Thanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city.

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• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168
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Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.com

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