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Sheriff Paul Babeu presents the Chaplain of the Year Award to James Stephens who is pictured with his wife Karen and PCSO Chief Deputy Steve Henry.
The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is one of the leading public safety organization in the country. The NSA represents almost 3,100 elected sheriffs and has a total membership of over 20,000 law enforcement professionals.
Recently, the NSA has named Pinal County Sheriff’s Chaplain James “Jim” Stephens as their “2016 Chaplain of the Year.” At a formal ceremony held at the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Chaplain Stephens was presented with the award by Sheriff Paul Babeu.
Sheriff Babeu stated, “Chaplain Jim Stephens never expected recognition and certainly not this national award since he’s always helped others out love for his fellow man. Jim’s always there to listen, offer encouragement and prayer when we need it most. Jim’s been a gift from God to support our staff and help us care for those we meet on emergency calls who need spiritual support. We are all so proud of this national recognition for Jim.”
Chaplain Stephens stated, “I am honored and humbled to receive this award. I want to thank Sheriff Paul for nominating me for this prestigious recognition. It is a privilege to serve PCSO and this county and I look forward to finding new and better ways to serve.”
Chaplain Stephens became a volunteer member of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Victim’s Services Unit in 2008. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Victim Services Unit is a civilian group of staff and volunteers created to assist victims of crime and support law enforcement. Victim’s service chaplains are on call to provide aid, comfort, assistance and resources to victims, witnesses and survivors of crime. The unit consists of six volunteer chaplains from various religious backgrounds, who respond to calls when needed.
Chaplain Stephens has a 20-year background in law enforcement. Prior to volunteering for PCSO, he spent many years as a department chaplain for a small Arizona police agency. He draws on his extensive law enforcement background to connect with deputies that may be having trouble coping with stressful or traumatic incidents. He finds comfort is providing faith-based counseling to law enforcement officers and crime victims alike.
Chaplain Stephens keeps busy outside of his chaplain service to PCSO by volunteering for his church and works for the elderly as the County’s Triad Coordinator. Triad is a nationwide concept supported by the NSA for organizing community resources to help provide a safer environment for older adults. The group is made up of community representatives who implement programs and activities to help the county’s elderly. He is serving as coordinator for the Oracle Triad.
His accomplishments as the Triad Coordinator include expanding the county’s lock-box program and the use of first-responder medical alert cards. These programs provide a safer home environment for the handicapped and elderly to remain independent. He also coordinates a group of volunteers who do light handiwork for the elderly who are not physically able to perform simple home maintenance.
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