Elrod sworn in as YCSO chaplain, serves area first responders

Pastor Gary Elrod was sworn in Wednesday as the chaplain for the Young County Sheriff’s Office, a position he has held along with being chaplain of the Graham Police Department for around a year serving area first responders and the community.

Elrod came to the position after previous chaplain Gary Tull recommended him to the departments in 2019. Tull was fighting a second battle with leukemia and passed away June 2019. Elrod said he wants to continue the legacy he started as chaplain of the departments.

“He had done such a great job that it made it so easy,” Elrod said. “He had such respect of all the officers and departments and it’s been a joy to come behind him. He paved the way and did a great job.”

As chaplain, Elrod ministers to both law enforcement departments as well as working with families of traumatic experiences.

“If there is any need for a chaplain on scene, I go out to wrecks, shootings, anytime there is injury or death they call me there,” he said. “I get to minister to the family and then I go to the hospital and I am one of the chaplains there at the hospital too.”

Elrod said he follows up with the family after a traumatic experience and does counseling both for the family and the officers. He said the community has been receptive towards the help he is offering to families.

“A lot of those (incidents) are late at night and so they have been very welcoming, very affirming and have appreciated somebody who can kind of walk them through, have prayer (and) try to bring a little bit of peace and comfort to stressful situations,” he said. “So far it’s been real well and some of the victims and families have been able to stay in touch quite a bit afterwards.”

Elrod said his position is not a paid position and the service is provided for free by both departments. Responding to traumatic scenes is something Elrod said his training prepared him for.

“You’ve got to rely on the training there and focus on why I am there, but yeah that is tough,” he said. “I have been in several of those, you know, the shootings I have been to those and suicides to just try to give comfort and hope to those who are left behind.”

Elrod was recommended by Tull because he had already completed the chaplain training in Denison with the Grand Prairie Police Department twice, received his certification and assisted him on cases in the past. GPD registered Elrod with the state in February 2019 as a chaplain for the department. Elrod said in working with both departments there is little difference in how he provides his services.

“Their focus is the same, wanting to protect and serve,” he said. “One is a little more tight local and the sheriff’s department can be called way out somewhere. I try to provide the same services. (I) try to be there and meet with the administrative staff, with each of them, sheriffs on Monday and police on Wednesday. I visit with the patrol on Tuesdays.”

For the full story, see the Saturday, Feb. 22 edition of The Graham Leader.