Retiring to Honorary Police Chaplain

Today, I begin a transition to join several other police chaplains in the CPCA who have served communities as law enforcement officers and now through retirement serve as police chaplains to law enforcement officers and their families. After 33.7 years of active duty with the Brandon Police Service, a ceremony was held at BPS in which I was presented a retired badge, plaque for dedicated service, and a plaque designating my future for continued service to the women and men of BPS as an Honorary Police Chaplain.

Through the speeches, presentations, and the words and prayer that I offered to my fellow peers, my emotions were kept in check, which was an answer to my prayer. God gave me the grace and liberty during my presentation to share my testimony of how Jesus took a stone cold heart of 17 years in law enforcement and replaced it with a heart of love and compassion for people, and in doing so He brought me out of darkness into the light and gave me another 17 years of healthy productive law enforcement and service to the residents of Brandon. God is the one who opened the door to the opportunity of being able to serve my peers and community through a dual role as police officer and chaplain for the past nine years. It was through that dual role that I grew the closest to those I served alongside in the trenches and it made the last nine years in law enforcement the best of my career.

As stated above, I was able to keep my emotions in check, until several hours after the ceremony, when I was ambushed by the Patrol S/Sgt, his Platoon, and civilian staff who lined the hallway as my wife and I began our departure from headquarters. I was "instructed" to radio in my 10-10 (end of tour of duty) and after doing so, received a several minute tribute over the air listing my accomplishments both as police officer for three decades and chaplain for almost a decade. What got the tears flowing was when the E911 dispatcher read Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." This was followed by her saying that not only has Constable Ewanyshyn saved lives but he has saved souls. We know it's Jesus who saves souls; we are called to be His ambassadors so that He may do the work through us and receive the glory. However, the recognition by our E911 operators that there have been divine appointments throughout my years of service was overwhelming and humbling.

The final tribute came when nine police units operating with full lights and sirens escorted my wife and I through the city to our home. I have provided many police escorts over my years of service but yesterday I was able to receive one of the ways police honor those who are part of something special - a police family. Yesterday, my badge #91 and my epaulets #91 were retired; however, my love and service to my BPS family, both retired and civilian, will never retire.

I have been invited to continue as an Instructor so I will continue to have the opportunity to meet and speak into the lives of future police officers in Manitoba. How great is our God!! Today is my first day joining my fellow brothers and sisters in chaplaincy who once served in law enforcement and now serve God and officers through dedicated chaplaincy. Thank you to all our chaplains from all backgrounds and faith beliefs for serving those who serve with excellence. You make a difference in the diverse lives of police officers every time you step into headquarters, or a coffee shop, or a police social gathering. As a retired police officer, I thank you for your service and dedication and I thank you for being part of my family in the CPCA.