by Bryan Henry, WSFA-TV News - Montgomery, Ala.
It is by far one of the most difficult jobs you can have; counseling grief-stricken police officers after losing one their own. Eric Jackson is a police chaplain.
“Like anything else it can be a stressful job added to everything else in life,” says Eric Jackson.
Jackson is 33 years old. He spent four years as Mobile, Ala. cop before getting ‘the call’ to go into the ministry. Jackson works part-time for the Montgomery, Ala. Police Department. He knows what the Prattville, Ala. police force is going through this week. Prattville police Lt. Danny Jones accidentally shot his fellow officer, 26 year old Officer Clint Walker, during a break of a training exercise in Wetumpka this week.
“These are very tough times for the police department, and there are difficult days ahead. But I do believe they’ll feel a sense of normality in about a month because they have to get back to what they do best and that is protecting citizens,” Jackson says.
A police department anywhere is typically a close-knit group. A fellow officer who dies in the line of duty is devastating. For Eric Jackson sometimes the best thing to say is to say nothing. There’s comfort in silence.
“The bulk of my ministry is the ministry of presence. Sometimes people feel the to need to rush in and offer advice and quite honestly I don’t think this is the time to offer advice to the force,” Jackson says.
Even if you didn’t know what this story was about, you knew something terribly was wrong in Prattville this week. Flags are still at half-staff at city hall and during a news conference yesterday the grief on Chief Alfred Wadsworth’s face showed.
“A police chief often looks at his force as his children, his family,” Jackson says.
A police chaplain plays a vital role in helping a police department overcome its grief; a shoulder to cry on or a word of scripture, but ultimately time is what often heals the pain and the hurt of losing a friend.
Trust Fund Established for Ala. Officer Killed
A memorial fund has been set up for Prattville Police Officer Clint Walker. He was accidentally shot in a training exercise on Wednesday died in a Montgomery hospital last night.
26-year-old Clinton Earl Walker, a three-year veteran, was pronounced dead shortly before 6:30 p.m.
Wetumpka Police Chief William Pertree would not identify the officer who fired the shot.
The shooting occurred Wednesday morning about 10:30 a.m. at the old Wetumpka post office. The building is used by law enforcement agencies to conduct weapons training. Prattville Police Chief Alfred
Wadsworth said an internal investigation is underway. He would not comment on whether the unnamed officer will face disciplinary action.
Contributions can be made at any Comala Credit Union location in Montgomery or Prattville. Funeral arrangements for Walker, who is the first Prattville policeman to die in the line of duty, are incomplete.
Comala Credit Union: Montgomery Locations:
418 Madison Ave, 3380 Eastdale Circle, 2105 E. South Blvd (Bapt. South)
Comala Credit Union: Prattville Location:
105 N. Memorial Drive