Authorities in Shelby County, Kentucky, are crediting a local pastor for helping to de-escalate a tense situation and save a life. On Aug. 14, law enforcement officers were called to an apartment where an armed man was barricaded inside.
The man was saying he planned to kill himself—or else have the police kill him, according to Shelby County Sheriff’s Capt. Kyle Tipton. When officers couldn’t talk the man down, Tipton requested help from “higher up.”
That’s when Pastor Dave Hamlin arrived on the scene. After he talked to the man for about half an hour, they both walked outside together. Then officers took the man to receive help.
The incident is another example of a successful police-clergy partnership, Tipton said, adding, “It resulted in a peaceful operation. There was no officer-involved shooting. There was no suicide attempt, but it had all the ingredients to end that way.”
Kentucky Pastor Dave Hamlin: ‘That’s Somebody’s Son’
About his involvement, Pastor Hamlin said the goal was to help someone who was obviously in distress. “That’s somebody’s son or daughter,” said the pastor, “and if you’ve ever been a parent and your kid’s going through anything, you would do anything to fix it.”
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Police had entered the man’s apartment, but he started issuing threats. Officers headed back outside and tried to communicate with the man via radio, without success. Finally, Hamlin was able to talk the man down. “You just got to trust me, just trust me, trust God,” the pastor told him. “Come on, let’s go.”
After the man surrendered and stepped outside with the pastor, the two of them hugged. The man was taken for an evaluation and is now receiving substance abuse treatment, according to Hamlin.
Law Enforcement Partnering With Clergy
On its Facebook page, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office thanked local clergy “for their assistance in peacefully resolving this matter.” Commenting on that post, Hamlin praised God that “the situation ended much better than we were afraid of.”
Prayer was vital to the entire encounter, the pastor added. “The best moment was after the individual was under control and headed to get help, the officers…and a couple other guys circled up for prayer. Not at the request of a pastor but one of the officers in charge.”
Hamlin said he’s proud to live in Shelby County and to “offer my assistance to these fine men and women on every occasion possible. Before midnight last night these officers had dealt with a standoff and two serious [motor vehicle accidents]—one ending in a fatality. No one knows what [officers] go through. #Igotyour6.” That hashtag is an expression among law enforcement and military personnel that means “I’ve got your back.”
Hamlin told ChurchLeaders he has assisted with dozens of calls during the past decade. In addition to suicide threats, the pastor said addiction issues are also common.
When asked what led to his involvement with the partnership—and what spurs him to continue—Hamlin cited friendships with officers who belong to his church, as well as longtime work in addiction recovery.
The partnership is about using all available resources to help people, Hamlin added. When asked about potential danger, he said, “Let’s just say I know how to handle and protect myself, and God’s behind all of this.”
