In January of 2025, SHIELD Chaplaincy was requested, by mutual aid of Virginia State Police, to respond and assist at Regan National Airport during the incident involving the crash between an American Airlines Jet and a Military Blackhawk Helicopter.

As a result of our service during that tragic time, our team was requested to come and share about our experience serving alongside of over 90 different agencies there, as well as the things we learned that could be helpful to others as we all continue to prepare ourselves for large scale incidents we could potentially face.

Join in and listen LIVE with Chaplains Stephenson and Hughes as they share with those attending the 2025 Virginia CIT Conference at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, VA.

Sleep....it's a rare commodity in the Law Enforcement and First Responder World. Long shifts, overtime, special events, and many other things make it anything other than easy to get sleep.

This is where our guest on this episode comes in! Meet Jennifer Boileau!

She is a Mindfulness Coach who specializes in helping Law Enforcement and First Responders learn practical ways to help them start sleeping again, slowing down their minds, lowering stress levels and more!

In this episode of the SHIELD Armory, Chaplains Potter, Stephenson and Hughes sit down with Jennifer to learn practical ways to help get to sleep, stay asleep and make that an everyday habit.

Along with all the advice she's given us, she has also sent some resources to hopefully help you as you continue in your career. Simply click on any of the resources below to have full access to what she's shared.

Progressive muscle relaxation: https://on.soundcloud.com/7lFWuz180UO937QW9d

iRest for sleep support: https://on.soundcloud.com/pPQaYKle5dKOZHl6QB

iRest for sleep: https://on.soundcloud.com/8vWn9hokm9rffKYqjl

Let's face it...law enforcement officers are put into situations that others could never dream of or will never experience. One of the worst situations they could ever find themselves in is the moment that lethal force becomes necessary.

The use of lethal force is something that every officer knows comes with the job. It's something they must work out in their mind and heart long before graduating the police academy and stepping foot in a patrol car.

In this episode, Chaplains Potter, Stephenson and Hughes sit down to have a very candid conversation about the moral and biblical case for the use of lethal force. Join them now and take a listen as they process this in ways you might not expect.

Let's face it, most people who enter the world of Law Enforcement do so with the plans to retire from that career one day. While retirement may be a long ways off, it's still the plan and one that preparations are starting to be made for on day one.

However, what happens when things don't go the way you plan? What happens when there is a detour and your long-term plan doesn't unfold the way you thought it would.

For Patrick Perkins, that is exactly what happened. Law Enforcement, the military...those were his plans for a career. However, when unexpected and unplanned physical injuries showed up, it became apparent that finishing those careers and retiring from them were not possible.

Join Chaplains Potter, Stephenson and Hughes as they sit down with everyone's favorite photographer, Patrick Perkins. Hear his story about how he not only learned how to deal with the injuries, but how a new plan for his life has given him both hope and purpose. Maybe, just maybe, you'll see that the same thing is possible for you if you were to ever find yourself in similar shoes.

Let's face it...in the Law Enforcement world, there has been a stigma for years when it comes to mental health. No one has wanted to talk about it....no one has wanted to deal with it...and everyone was afraid if they did, their career would be over.

Those days are over!

The world we live in now is much different. The resources available, the conversation around it and the willingness to get those who need it help is far greater than it's ever been.

In this episode, Sgt. Stephen Foutz of the Roanoke County Police Department opens up about his journey with mental health, depression and his path to healing as a way to bring hope to others who may be dealing with this silent battle within.

Join Chaplains Potter, Stephenson and Hughes for this episode and a very vulnerable conversation that could be the very starting point for the healing you, or someone you know, may need.

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!! THE EPISODE EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING ON!!!!

We truly believe that this will be our most listened to episode to date!

While our Chaplains may not be officers, we work anything other than normal schedules, we spend countless hours in patrol cars standing shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who wear the uniform. We carry the weight of the world as we shoulder the needs of our families, as well carrying the weight of many others.

And just like you, we have wives waiting at home for our safe arrival, who are making dinner that will be waiting for us when we get home, who are taking the kids from place to place.

Join Chaplain Hughes as he sits down with Melanie Potter, Courtney Stephenson and Amber Hughes for a very honest and raw conversation. In that you will hear them talk about things such as:

-The wives love for the spouses of officers, dispatchers and first responders.

-The weight they carry as they walk beside of their Chaplain husbands

-Get the inside scoop on what life is like for them

-Much MUCH more!

If you are serving and have a spouse at home, we want to encourage you to share this with them!

Police Officers stand out...the uniform, the badge, the radio and all of the other equipment you wear makes it very obvious who you are.

But, there is someone just as important who isn't as easily seen: the spouses at home waiting for you to walk through the door so they can breathe a sigh of relief that you're safe.

While officers carry the weight of the calls for service, your spouse carries a different kind of weight.

In this 2 part series, we will hear from two different LEO spouses, who sit down and open up about what it's like for them as they spend a lot of time away from their spouse, the toll it takes when they hear about critical incidents but haven't heard from their loved ones yet and much more.

Join in with Chaplains Potter, Stephenson and Hughes as they sit down for a very candid conversation with Aaron Doyle, the husband of Officer Lindsey Wyatt of Roanoke PD.

Police Officers stand out...the uniform, the badge, the radio and all of the other equipment you wear makes it very obvious who you are.

But, there is someone just as important who isn't as easily seen: the spouses at home waiting for you to walk through the door so they can breathe a sigh of relief that you're safe.

While officers carry the weight of the calls for service, your spouse carries a different kind of weight.

In this 2 part series, we will hear from two different LEO spouses, who sit down and open up about what it's like for them as they spend a lot of time away from their spouse, the toll it takes when they hear about critical incidents but haven't heard from their loved ones yet and much more.

Join in with Chaplains Potter, Stephenson and Hughes as they sit down for a very candid conversation with Meg Veal, wife of Officer Greg Veal of Roanoke PD.

Let's face it, the world around us is full of negativity! Then on top of that, you add the stresses of the job for Law Enforcement, Dispatchers and First Responders and the weight seems impossible to lift.

What if we told you the weight of that negativity didn't have to weigh you down? What if we told you there is a completely different way of living?

In this episode, Chaplains Potter, Stephenson and Hughes sit down with Officer Ryan Brady to talk about what it looks like to live life looking through the lens of gratitude. Hear how he and his family have learned (not perfected) the art of seeing the world through a lens of gratitude.

This episode could be just what you need right now, or maybe what you need a little later down the road. Either way, it's a good time to sit down, listen in and take a few notes.

When the SHIELD Armory was being dreamed up by our team, the question was asked: "Do you think any of the Chiefs of the Departments we serve would be willing to sit down with us for an interview some day?"

Guess what....not only did they agree to do it, they were excited about it!

In Week 4 of this series, you will hear from Chief Derek Weeks from the City of Salem Police Department in Salem, VA.

During our time with him, we will:

-Learn about who he is.

-Learn what he is passionate about

-Hear about his journey from the Academy to Chief

-Learn what are some of his greatest challenges have been

-Hear about some of his greatest moments.

-And much, much more!!!

Join us now as we sit down with Chief Weeks from Salem PD.