PREACHER ON PATROL; CHAPLAIN FINDS POLICE MINISTRY THE RIGHT BEAT.Byline: Holly J. Andres Daily News Staff Writer From the roller coaster What a bad CD-R disc is often called. See CD-R and underrun. of emotions in a city hospital to the nighttime grittiness grit·ty adj. grit·ti·er, grit·ti·est 1. Containing, covered with, or resembling grit. 2. Showing resolution and fortitude; plucky: a gritty decision. of a police beat, the Rev. Roy Gaton brings a soothing sooth·ing adj. Tending to soothe. sooth  ing·ly adv.sooth presence to troubled people in Glendale. By day, at Glendale Adventist Medical Center Glendale Adventist Medical Center is located in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, California. It was founded in 1905. Glendale Adventist Medical Center is a sister institution of Loma Linda University Medical Center and is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist hospital system. , hospital chaplain Noun 1. hospital chaplain - a chaplain in a hospital chaplain - a clergyman ministering to some institution Gaton dispenses spiritual comfort, runs support groups and offers prayers for speedy recoveries. Once a week, he dons a uniform and climbs into a patrol car for a ride on the wild side with officers from the Glendale Police Department. Gaton has volunteered his time to be a police chaplain CHAPLAIN. A clergyman appointed to say prayers and perform divine service. Each house of congress usually appoints it own chaplain. since January. ``When I was a college student in Michigan, I was a reserve police officer and a campus police officer. I always enjoyed that work,'' said Gaton, a Seventh-day Adventist Sev·enth-day Adventist n. A member of a sect of Adventism distinguished chiefly for its observance of the Sabbath on Saturday. minister since 1995. ``One of the reasons why I accepted the offer to be a chaplain at Glendale Adventist was because I knew the hospital was very much involved in the greater Glendale community.'' Gaton, 28, started in September 1996 at the hospital. He soon saw a volunteer opportunity that he could relate to with the Glendale Police Department. ``The initial response when I started was positive. I remember hearing some of the officers saying, good, good, we need you. Since I've volunteered, I've had some officers who have asked me to pray for them. I also do confidential counseling with them away from the station.'' While he said he's mainly there for the officers, Gaton has comforted the general public during his nights on patrol. ``I remember a domestic violence call when I stayed with the victim's mother and other members of the family while the officers were assessing the situation. Another time I stayed and talked with the girlfriend of a suicide. So, I've been called upon to help civilians.'' The Glendale Police are grateful that Gaton has volunteered to join the five other chaplains who are on call 24 hours a day with the department. ``Police have a stressful job. It's nice to have someone you can turn to and has some understanding of what you're going through,'' said Pat Richardson, the reserve program coordinator for the Glendale Police Department. ``Roy relates well with the officers because of his police background work. He's enthusiastic, he's young and he really enjoys going out in the field with the officers.'' Richardson said that the department knows Gaton is a valuable resource when they need counseling. Even though Gaton is a Seventh-day Adventist, as are his father, father-in-law and four uncles, he explained that all chaplains are taught a way to minister to all denominations. ``People come into the hospital with strong feelings and emotions. They also may experience the feeling of loneliness while they're here. Besides the religious diversity, this hospital has a lot of cultural diversity that we chaplains have to be sensitive to,'' he said. ``I enjoy being a minister to people when they need you the most, to help them with those emotions and spiritual needs. I'm here for the patients, their families and the staff.'' While he admitted that his challenge in the hospital is to be able to do everything for all the patients he sees, he is also determined to show the importance of the chaplains. ``The chaplains are involved in ethics ethics, in philosophy, the study and evaluation of human conduct in the light of moral principles. Moral principles may be viewed either as the standard of conduct that individuals have constructed for themselves or as the body of obligations and duties that a , discussing ethical decisions Real life ethical decisions are studied in sociology and political science and psychology using very different methods than descriptive ethics in ethics (philosophy). Not ethics proper at the hospital, for example,'' he said. ``Glendale Adventist also has one of the largest bereavement Bereavement Definition Bereavement refers to the period of mourning and grief following the death of a beloved person or animal. The English word bereavement support group programs in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, ,'' he said. ``I'd like people to know the importance of a chaplain in a hospital setting and how challenging and specialized our work is.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO The Rev. Roy Gaton is chaplain for the Glendale Police Department where he provides spiritual support. John McCoy/Daily News |
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