Full Notification

Police Chaplain Ray McClendon Retires from Service in Petaluma

Chaplain helped first responders and community deal with tragedies.
 
 In 2013 the leader of the Petaluma Church of Christ wanted to do more to serve his community.  He joined a group of proactive faith-based leaders who have volunteered their time as Public Safety Chaplains for Petaluma Police and Fire Departments since 1999. 

Chaplain Richard “Ray” McClendon has served with distinction as a member of the Petaluma Police Department’s Public Safety Chaplaincy Program for the last six years.  During those years he has served as the lead chaplain and he and his team have elevated our program to one of the finest in the state and probably the country.  He has donated thousands of hours annually to any call for help from police or fire personnel responding to situations everyone hopes will never happen and many most can never even imagine.

Calls for service to the chaplains range from supporting traumatized first responders after an event to standing with them to comfort and support community members who have experienced tragedy and death.  Chaplain McClendon did not just wait by the phone, he was an active and astute community member who knew or would learn of situations impacting the community or those charged with protecting the same, and he would just show up to offer his assistance.  Some would need his help immediately, others would realize the need later and call on him.  Even if he showed up to direct traffic at the scene, he always found a way to help serve others. 

Chaplain McClendon and I met to discuss his retirement as he prepares to relocate closer to family in the south bay.  We discussed his experiences as a chaplain on callouts that ranged from traumatized police officers and firefighters, death notifications, fatal traffic collision scenes, murder, rape, domestic violence, child abuse, death investigations in the field or at local hospitals, drowning accidents, overdoses, suicides, industrial accidents, fire events and serious medical emergencies.  As we discussed six years of helping others, I realized the details of those events were to traumatic to share here in more detail.
 
First responders have always answered the call to such events and over time the emotional impact of those events has a negative impact on any human being.  Police chaplains perform a vital role to help carry the heavy weight of those emotional events so it does not all fall to our first responders.  In addition to supporting those in need of comfort, they also help first responders handle what needs to be done and get back on the street to handle the next call for service.  Chaplain McClendon has done all of that exceptionally and much more. 

He has volunteered at numerous community events to represent the Police Department and the Public Safety Chaplaincy Program.  Through the Petaluma Church of Christ, he started the annual Thanksgiving First Responder Luncheon to express gratitude to first responders, especially those working the holiday when everyone else is gathering with friends and family.
 
His retirement from service here in Petaluma was celebrated yesterday at the Department with family, friends, and peers.    We are grateful for his service to the Petaluma community and our first responders.  We will miss his presence in the Petaluma community. 

Please join us in thanking Chaplain McClendon and all public safety chaplains for their selfless service to our community and our first responders.