DULUTH — For "Father Padre" the Rev. John Petrich, joining the St. Louis County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy 34 years ago was a very easy decision. Before moving to Duluth, Petrich was already serving with Cass County back in 1988 after a young deputy asked him if he wanted to join in a ride-along.
"He said, 'Why don't you come out and ride with us and see what we're up against on the street?' So that spring, I went for a ride, and I liked it," said Petrich, who is retiring from law enforcement chaplaincy but will remain working at St. Luke's and serving in the area. "So I went for another ride, and I liked it again. So I talked with the sheriff about getting credentials to be a law enforcement chaplain."
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When Petrich moved to Duluth in 1990, the St. Louis County Law Enforcement Chaplaincy had only recently started. The idea of the program was to help those in the law enforcement community find healthy ways to deal with the stress of the job and stand by and be present for difficult occasions.
"A chaplain is a clergy person who is a really good pastor who can bring the church where the church can't go," Petrich said. "I can bring the love of God into crisis situations. I can bring a listening ear in a stressful time. And even at scenes where everything is happening and unfolding really quickly, the chaplain could be there in the corner, behind the scenes, praying. Nobody knows they're praying, but they're there offering that quiet, calming, prayerful presence."
Petrich said being a law enforcement chaplain meant being on-call and available to respond when needed. If called to a scene, he could be there for 10 minutes or three hours. Petrich said that for every major emergency event for the past 34 years, there was a chaplain present to help lend guidance and peace.
"A couple of us were there at the Wellstone crash, Toxic Tuesday, the Husky explosion and evacuation. I was at ground zero (911)," Petrich said. "We were available and ready to do whatever we needed to when we were called. And there will still be police chaplains that are ready at a moment's notice; it doesn't die when I retire."
For Petrich, the most difficult situations as a chaplain were crisis situations when someone died, and a death notification to the family had to be made.
"Someone's life has changed; they're about to have their worst day ever because of what's happening, and we become the messenger of that change," Petrich said. "The world as they know it is not going to be the same."
Petrich said what matters most during that difficult moment is meeting people where they're at and providing what peace and understanding that they can.
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"We give them the message that they need to hear and reassure them that even in this time, they're not alone. They're not going to be abandoned. We're going to hang in with them as long as they need," Petrich said. "And that God will be with them as long as they need. We try to help them make sense of this unexpected reality."
Petrich also serves as a chaplain for St. Luke's hospital and said the biggest difference between the two is the suddenness of the news. With law enforcement situations, people aren't expecting news of a loved one dying, typically. In a hospital setting, people often have a little more time to sit with the news and adjust to it.
"I used to joke that I'm the last guy you wanted to see at 3 a.m. because nothing good happens at that time," Petrich said.
What kept Petrich coming back to serve every year?
The people he encountered. He developed relationships with several law enforcement people over the years and has overseen a lot of retired police officer funerals, weddings, and baptisms of their children.
"You see the full gamut of things that become that spiritual contact, that connection," Petrich said. "It's been a rewarding experience and I know that our work as chaplains is greatly appreciated."
Petrich received a plaque of appreciation from St. Louis County for his 34 years of service at a regular County Board meeting on Nov. 26.
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"It's time to retire, to start another chapter in life and say, 'OK, what am I going to do for the next 34 years?'" Petrich said.
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