Norris Beckley, another Shelby County pastor who assists law enforcement, said the partnership works because clergy members “know this community [and] this community knows us, they trust us.”
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Pastor-clergy partnerships are becoming more common throughout America. Pastors receive training in a variety of crisis situations and offer support to victims of crime and disasters. The U.S. Department of Justice provides guidelines for developing and maintaining partnerships between law enforcement and clergy.
This article has been updated with comments from Pastor Dave Hamlin to ChurchLeaders.
