A long-time chaplain of the Windsor Police Service is retiring.
Reverend Chuck Congram has been with the service since 1985.
"Chaplains were regarded as out there and if we need you we'll call you and I was determined that if I was really going to get to understand the job and what their experiencing I had to be closer then that," said Congram. "That's why I came and said I need permission to ride with officers so that's been a big part of it."
When Congram first started there was a Roman Catholic chaplain and he represented the Protestant faith. Since then, he's been responsible for growing the chaplaincy team to include members of different faiths.
At the December meeting of the Windsor Police Service Board, Hassan Rkie was sworn in as a chaplain for the police service representing the Muslim faith.
Congram said he has made many positive connections and enjoyed overseeing training and badge ceremonies. He admits there have been some hard times as well.
"There are a number of things on the positive side and then there are the hard moments. The death of John Atkinson was one of the hardest experiences we've been through. We've also had a couple of suicides of police officers and those are pretty hard moments," said Congram. "I get to be part of speaking to new recruits and to be part of their badge ceremonies and celebrating those moments with them, those are pretty significant moments."
Congram is retiring in January.
