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Honoring the chaplains
Wayne Saylors understands the pressures law enforcement officers face.
He’s worked in the jail, on patrol, in narcotics and general investigation during the past 22 years. Now, as a chaplain for the Whitfield County Sheriff’s office, Saylors is able to help officers through tough times — on the job and at home.
“There was room (at the sheriff’s office), and there was also a need for spiritual counseling, spiritual guidance, spiritual leadership that could be helped,” Saylors said. “The sheriff (Scott Chitwood) does a wonderful job for us in that area, but he needed some help. I just felt led to ask about coming on board.”
The District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Assistance Program recognized a group of area chaplains for their service on Wednesday at the Whitfield County Courthouse as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The Victim/Witness office also had a ceremony at the Murray County courthouse Wednesday morning.
Honored were Billy Nimmons, pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church in Dalton; chaplain Nancy Garrison of Hamilton Medical Center; chaplains Ray Camp, Ray McCrainie and Don Treick of the Dalton Police Department; and Saylors. The Murray County ceremony recognized chaplain Danny Cochran.
“Our staff has chosen to honor the chaplains and clergy who provide support, encouragement and hope to the victims and their families, the community and law enforcement,” said Brenda Hoffmeyer, director of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program. “We have chosen this group of servants for their ministry to this community and especially the least of these, our child victims.”
Nimmons was one of the founding board members for the GreenHouse Child Advocacy Center and is still active in his support of the center. He deflected praise from himself, choosing to thank members of law enforcement for their service.
“They’re not just trying to control crime, they’re interested in what happens to the victims, who are affected for many, many years,” Nimmons said.
Saylors, whose family belongs to Poplar Springs Baptist Church, said his primary focus is on officers and their families, but he “would go out into any area necessary to help.” Officers talk about a variety of topics, whether it’s dealing with a heavy caseload or a problem at home.
“If nothing else, being in the office and having another officer to stop by and talk to,” Saylors said. “My door is always open — unless I’m having lunch, and sometimes I don’t even close it for that. They’re welcome to come in there. We’ll talk openly and if it becomes something that is a private issue, we just sort of push the door nearly to and handle it that way.”
Garrison has been a key part of the GreenHouse’s annual Christmas party for children and is also part of the office of the district attorney’s effort to establish a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program at Hamilton Medical Center.
Camp, McCrainie and Treick held a successful toy drive in support of the GreenHouse’s Christmas party and they also respond to crime scenes to assist victims.
Saylors holds a shoe drive for area children, collects items needed by girls at Cherokee Estate and also is in charge of the sheriff’s office’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program.
The Victim/Witness Assistance Program was founded 23 years ago. It has become a model for the state, said Mike Cowan, a member of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners. Cowan presented a proclamation to observe April 26 through May 2 as “National Victims’ Rights Week.”
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Preparing for the big game
Kayla Webb, 15, performs a cheer with the varsity and junior varsity members of the North Murray cheerleading team Wednesday as they walk laps around the track at Murray High School. The team is getting ready for their first game of the season, scheduled for Aug. 20, a scrimmage against Murray High. Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen
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