About Us

Tacoma-Pierce County Chaplaincy

“We consider it a privilege to assist people who are going through the greatest crisis of their lives.”

Mission Statement

The mission of the Tacoma Pierce County Chaplaincy (TPCC) is to provide emotional and spiritual intervention and support to citizens in crisis, to include the service providers, i.e. police officers, firefighters, and their families. TPCC’s mission is accomplished in collaboration and cooperation with over thirty (30) police, fire and other emergency response agencies throughout Greater Pierce County, Washington.

Service Delivery

TPCC chaplaincy service is provided throughout the Greater Pierce County area, serving a population of 800,000. TPCC responds on a no-decline basis to all requests for service initiated through the public safety agencies. In other words, when a TPCC chaplain is called by a police or fire agency, they respond immediately, on a 24-hour basis. In 2008 TPCC responded to over 5,000 distress calls through public safety agencies in Pierce County.

TPCC organizes and staffs the semi-annual, week-long Chaplain Training Academy at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s academy in south King County. This “best practices” training program is open to new or experienced chaplains, or other emergency service personnel, enrolled from public safety departments throughout the Pacific Northwest and across the United States. The Chaplain Training Academy graduates about 45-50 chaplains each year.

For a number of years TPCC has sponsored an annual scholarship program for young people interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice or a related field. This academic scholarship is endowed from the estate of retired Pierce County Sheriff and Tacoma Chief of Police.

Status & Structure

Tacoma Pierce County Chaplaincy (TPCC) is a faith-based 501(c)(3) organization, registered and incorporated in the State of Washington, servicing the Greater Pierce County area which is comprised of approximately 800,000 residents.

History

TPCC began in 1971 with the establishment of a volunteer chaplaincy program with the Tacoma Police Department. In 1979 the organization was incorporated in the State of Washington as a non-profit corporation, and has continuously provided crisis intervention for victims, and support to public safety personnel and their families. TPCC is registered with the IRS as a 501 (C) (3) Tax Exempt faith based organization.

Meet Your Chaplains

TPCC supports a cadre of five full-time Staff Chaplains and thirty Volunteer Chaplains. Our chaplains are experienced ordained ministers, trained to respond and work well within the public safety environment. They offer hope, comfort, and support to those in trauma, most often involving sudden death. Competency and compassion are the hallmarks of T-PCC chaplains. Day or night, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the chaplains respond to crisis when called by their respective agencies.