Chaplains Say They Want To Join City Officials In Fight Against Violent Crime
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Frustrated community leaders came together in Brooklyn on Monday night, to discuss how to best combat a recent surge in violence on the city's streets.
As 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported, there are 1,500 chaplains in the city and they want to help.
Clark Pena, a spokesman for the International Alliance of Chaplains in Law Enforcement, said they are underutilized. He wants the city to call on them to help in the aftermath of shootings and disasters.
"We meet every third Monday. We're here. If we get a call from the mayor's office right now we're cutting this meeting short and going to the scene. But, where's the call? Where's the call? Why haven't we been called to 105th street where someone just got shot? 105 and Madison. Why do I have to get that call from friends and neighbors?" Pena said.
He said many of the chaplains have law enforcement backgrounds. Some of them have been trained in first aid, others in crisis management.