Baltimore City Police Chaplaincy Graduation
Baltimore City Police Department has a revamped chaplaincy program and it seems to be really good. On
Tuesday 26 May 2015 we had a graduation ceremony with the Police
Explorers. I consider it an honor to graduate with these
fine men and women who are our future leaders.
Before the graduation I had a wonderful opportunity to sit and talk with Rabbi Chesky Tanebaum. He shared with me his experience after the riots and also taught me a little about Jewish culture.
Our first speaker was Baltimore City Police Commissioner Anthony Batts who said, "This is my eighth riot. Rodney King didn’t happen on that day. It started ten years ago. ... This is an opportunity for change. This is an opportunity for Baltimore to change for the better. Melvin Russell is a good example of how we want to do this. ... We have to respect and listen to people. ... Talk about tough issues that the City does not want to talk about. I have a police department that is angry. They are hurt, frustrated. Extreme trauma usually leads to dramatic changes. You have a right to your emotions. But take the opportunity to grow because the City needs you.
We have a God-given right to make a difference here.
Congressman Donna Edwards said, "At my church we have two services. You [Commissioner Batts] get the first sermon, and I get the second." She reminded parents that the young people are listening to them. They are watching and listening to them.
"I look at this time as an opportunity to reinvent ourselves. It is about service. How do we serve our communities? You remind me of my son, each of you, in a different way, even the girls."
LTC Melvin Russell told us that we have had an Explorer program since 1991.
Dr. Curtis Turner is a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. We met before the ceremony and that was a real blessing to me. I complemented him for looking like a clergy by wearing his Roman collar.
Whenever the police came into our school, somebody thought that something was wrong. “Was any of your students out there causing trouble?” No. The police are mentoring his students.
Where’s CNN? Where’s the news media?
"I’m Catholic, so my sermon should be six to eight minutes." In 1828 St. Frances Academy was founded to teach black children how to read, which was against the law in the State of Maryland.
Lyn Twyman, Family Violence Advocate, was an at risk youth growing up and she and her father were homeless for several months. She wanted to teach and be in law enforcement. Now she has the best of two worlds.
She told us that without the faith community she wold not be here today. There are six pillars to this explorer program. We want our young people to be successful as law enforcement agents.
A big part of this is the Boys Scout for life program. Thank you, Explorers, for being a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
LTC Melvin Russell told us: "You are clear to transform Baltimore. Our chaplains are clear. Our explorers are clear."
After the graduation ceremony, we had a wonderful luncheon. The food was delicious.
Before the graduation I had a wonderful opportunity to sit and talk with Rabbi Chesky Tanebaum. He shared with me his experience after the riots and also taught me a little about Jewish culture.
Our first speaker was Baltimore City Police Commissioner Anthony Batts who said, "This is my eighth riot. Rodney King didn’t happen on that day. It started ten years ago. ... This is an opportunity for change. This is an opportunity for Baltimore to change for the better. Melvin Russell is a good example of how we want to do this. ... We have to respect and listen to people. ... Talk about tough issues that the City does not want to talk about. I have a police department that is angry. They are hurt, frustrated. Extreme trauma usually leads to dramatic changes. You have a right to your emotions. But take the opportunity to grow because the City needs you.
We have a God-given right to make a difference here.
Congressman Donna Edwards said, "At my church we have two services. You [Commissioner Batts] get the first sermon, and I get the second." She reminded parents that the young people are listening to them. They are watching and listening to them.
"I look at this time as an opportunity to reinvent ourselves. It is about service. How do we serve our communities? You remind me of my son, each of you, in a different way, even the girls."
LTC Melvin Russell told us that we have had an Explorer program since 1991.
Dr. Curtis Turner is a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. We met before the ceremony and that was a real blessing to me. I complemented him for looking like a clergy by wearing his Roman collar.
Whenever the police came into our school, somebody thought that something was wrong. “Was any of your students out there causing trouble?” No. The police are mentoring his students.
Where’s CNN? Where’s the news media?
"I’m Catholic, so my sermon should be six to eight minutes." In 1828 St. Frances Academy was founded to teach black children how to read, which was against the law in the State of Maryland.
Lyn Twyman, Family Violence Advocate, was an at risk youth growing up and she and her father were homeless for several months. She wanted to teach and be in law enforcement. Now she has the best of two worlds.
She told us that without the faith community she wold not be here today. There are six pillars to this explorer program. We want our young people to be successful as law enforcement agents.
A big part of this is the Boys Scout for life program. Thank you, Explorers, for being a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
LTC Melvin Russell told us: "You are clear to transform Baltimore. Our chaplains are clear. Our explorers are clear."
After the graduation ceremony, we had a wonderful luncheon. The food was delicious.
Officer Quinse Green
Congressman Donna Edwards, Edwin Spuler, and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts
Congressman Donna Edwards, Matt Stevens, and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts
Congressman Donna Edwards, Rabbi Cehsky Tenebaum, and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts
Congressman Donna
Edwards, Maceo Tillman, and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts 
LTC Melvin Russell
