September 1, 2005

New Police Chaplain Joins LPD Team        

 

  The Lodi Police Department is pleased to announce the addition of Rabbi Dr. Raphael Pazo, Jr., to the LPD Chaplaincy Program.  Dr. Pazo was appointed to the position of Police Chaplain by Lodi Police Chief Jerry Adams, effective August 9, 2005.

Dr. Pazo was ordained a Rabbi in June of 2005 in New York City, after completing a Doctorate in Philosophy, in the area of Comparative Religion.  He also holds a Ph.D. in International Relations, an M.A. in Non-Western Languages (Arabic, Hebrew and Aramaic), and an M.B.A., along with several other degrees.  He has been certified as a deputy coroner and as a reserve police officer in California, and is a veteran of the US Army, having served in various roles during assignments in the US and overseas in Central America and the Middle East. 

Dr. Pazo is a registered family counselor in the State of New York, and has an extensive background in the funeral service profession, having served in local, state and international professional organizations.  He currently serves as mortuary manager and director of Frisbie-Warren & Carroll Mortuary in Stockton.  He is an accomplished bagpiper and an instructor in this art, and was appointed last year to the Lodi Police Department Honor Guard as San Joaquin County’s first law enforcement bagpiper.  He has performed at several funerals and memorial services in this role.  More information about Dr. Pazo’s piping can be found at www.californiabagpiper.com.  A member of several local fraternal and service organizations, Dr. Pazo lives in Lodi with his wife, Susan, and their four children.
 
Dr. Pazo will join with four other Lodi Police Chaplains in providing their invaluable services to the community.  They are:  Chaplain Larry Beck, Chaplain Barbara Taylor, Chaplain Phillip Orosco, and Chaplain Chris Guadiz.   Chaplains are available to respond on a 24-hour basis to a variety of crisis and counseling situations.  While they represent a variety of faiths, they perform their duties in a non-denominational manner. 

The LPD Chaplaincy Program is about 15 years old and has provided assistance to Lodi police officers in countless situations, such as assisting with death notifications, comforting victims of traumatic events, and providing confidential advice and counseling to police personnel.  All of the chaplains provide their services on a volunteer basis, at no cost to the taxpayer or the recipient of their services.  Tax-deductible contributions to the LPD Chaplaincy Program are always welcome. (501(c)(3) non-profit organization)

 

Contact:  Lt. William Barry - 209-329-2966 or Captain Gary Benincasa - 209-329-3480