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Chaplaincy Corps

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Chaplaincy Program is a corps of volunteer clergy members who desire to serve others in times of distress. Chaplains are responsible for providing on-call spiritual guidance, counseling, consultation, and other forms of crisis intervention counseling.

The program provides countywide coverage. Chaplains respond to a wide variety of Sheriff’s Office law enforcement calls for service, accompany deputy sheriffs on ride-a-longs, and conduct visitations at agency facilities, homes, and hospitals.

The goal of the Chaplaincy Program is to provide a trusted individual in whom agency members and Polk County citizens may confide, seek assistance, or be comforted.

Bates

Dr. Benjamin Bates

Bates served in the United State Navy, and has been a minister for 60 years.

Bates received his seminary training from the California Baptist Theological Seminary, Los Angeles, and the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on Bates by the Southern California Seminary, San Diego, California.

Blackburn

M. Wayne Blackburn

Blackburn has been in the ministry over 40 years.

He is the senior pastor of Victory Church, Lakeland.

Blackburn graduated from Southeastern University.

Emery

Dean O'Neil Emery

Emery has served in the United States Army National Guard, and has been in the ministry 25 years.

Emery has a bachelor's in Social Science and psychology from Warner University, a Masters of Religious Education from New orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisiana.

Emery has served as a dispatcher for Frostproof Police Department and a Chaplain for Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Giles

Rick Giles

He has served in the United States Army, and has been in the ministry for 15 years.

He is an associate pastor at the First Baptist Church of Frostproof.

Giles is pursuing his bachelor's degree from Liberty University.

Gipson

Dennis Gipson

Gipson has served in the ministry for 30 years.

He is the senior pastor for the New Hope Church, Winter Haven.

Gipson has a bachelor's degree from Southeastern University.

Hawley

Frank Hawley

Hawley has served in the ministry for 28 years.

He is the pastor for Garden Grove Assembly of God.

Hawley has a bachelor's degree from Southeastern University.

Hill

Dr. Nathaniel B. Hill

He has served in the ministry for 29 years.

He is the pastor for Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, Mulberry.

Hill has a bachelor's and master's in education, and a doctorate in theology.

Hood

Darrol Hood

Hood has served in the ministry for 27 years.

He is the senior pastor for the First Baptist Church in Frostproof.

Hood has a bachelor's degree in education and church ministry, and a master's in counseling from Liberty University.

Lallance

Leroy O. Lallance

Lallance has served in the ministry for 25 years.

He serves as a pastor at the First United methodist Church of Lakeland.

Lallance has a bachelor's degree in music education from Florida State university, and a masters of education in music from Columbus State University.

Moyer

Dr. James G. Moyer

Moyer has served in the ministry for 15 years.

He provides pastoral services to various churches and is a professor at Warner University, Lake Wales.

Moyer has a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh.

Philip

Regi T. Philip

Philip has served in the ministry for 13 years.

He is the associate pastor of the Village Church of God, Winter Haven.

Philip has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from St. Leo University, and a master's in business also from St. Leo. He is currently pursuing a master's of divinity from Andersonville Theological Seminary.

Philip attended the Polk Community College Law Enforcement Academy in 1989, and also serves as a Reserve Deputy for the PCSO.

Pittman

H. Marvin Pittman

Pittman has served in the ministry for over 27 years.

He is the Senior Chaplain of the Polk County Sheriff's office, a International Mission Board Trustee, and a member of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Pittman has attended Castle Heights military Academy, Miami Dade Jr. College, the University of Virginia, and the FBI National Academy.

Reynolds

Dr. Wallace A. Reynolds

Reynolds has served in the ministry for 33 years.

He is the Rector for the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Bartow.

Reynolds has a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Marshall University, a Certification for Parish Ministry from West Virginia School of Theology, and a doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky.