When I turned fourteen years old, I felt like I did not have a true understanding of what I did at the age of seven, so I rededicated my life to the Lord and I got baptized again.

Growing up I was always interested in a career in law enforcement. Back in the 80’s law enforcement agencies liked to hire prior military persons so in 1982 I joined the United States Marine Corps.

As I grew older, I began to backslide. In 1986, I started my career in law enforcement working as a California Correctional Officer at the California Institution for Men (Chino Prison) in Chino, CA. One of my partners that worked the prison yard with me was a Christian. We would walk around the yard and he would witness to the inmates. Little did he know he was also witnessing to me. I rededicated my life again to Jesus Christ. I am thankful that Jesus is willing to forgive us for our sins and that His grace and mercy, is sufficient! We are saved by grace through faith.

I worked as a Correctional Officer for two years and then in 1988, I lateraled over to the California State Police Department where I served the public for three years in San Diego’s field office.

In 1991, I lateraled to the Riverside Police Department and I spent the next 25 years of my life serving the community there. God blessed me with a wonderful career in law enforcement and in July 2016 I retired a Police Detective.

I am married to a wonderful Christian lady. We have been married for over 29 years and we have been blessed with three wonderful children, a son in law, a granddaughter and two grandsons. We attend a wonderful church that is part of the Calvary Churches in Southern California.

In 1993, my former partner Skip Showalter, asked me if I would go with him to the California Youth Authority, (Heman G. Stark Correctional Facility) to support him as he preached to the young men incarcerated there. I went with him and I fell in love with the ministry. I continued going with Skip and I gradually got involved in “Cell Ministries” and eventually I began preaching from the pulpit in the chapel. One day I was reading Matthew 25:36 and I knew then without a doubt that God called me into prison ministry.

God has blessed me with wonderful Christian men who serve on the Board of Directors for COPS Ministry and wonderful Christian men who serve on the Executive Leadership Board for COPS ministry.

Over the years God has added several committed men and women that are officers from different police agencies in Southern California who have the heart to serve the Lord.

God has expanded our territory as we have preached in prisons in California, Arkansas, Arizona, Kansas, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Utah. I am excited to see where God will continue to lead us.

Chaplain Ken

Greetings,

I am a police detective with a police department in Southern California. I have been a police officer for more than 25 years. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. I graduated high school, went to college for a year and then enlisted in the Marine Corps.

My parents were Christians and I grew up in a Methodist Church. I knew God and I talked to God, but as I entered into my teenage years my thoughts and actions would not have been pleasing to God.

During my years in the Marine Corps and my early years as a police officer, I was dependant on myself and I did not think I needed God.

In 1982 I met my wife and shortly thereafter got married. I had placed my police career at a higher priority than it probably deserved. As a result, I was not walking in a relationship with Christ, my marriage was suffering and other things in my life were not working out either.

By 1984 I found my marriage on the brink of a divorce. With a strong desire to save a failing marriage, I turned to the God my parents had brought me to know. I surrendered my life to Christ and began a process of change by tapping into God’s grace.

Today I worship at a Southern Baptist Church near my home. We have been blessed with two sons, both who have received Christ as their personal Savior. My wife and I lead a small group at church. We have a heart for couples experiencing marriage challenges. We believe a marriage is worth fighting for. I attend a men’s Bible study called Mighty Men of Valor because I believe men need to be in fellowship with one another and hold each other accountable as Christians.

I used to tell people the reason I serve in the COPS ministry is that our God is a God of second chances. But, I believe it is better said that He is a God of new beginnings. We travel all over the country preaching the love of Jesus Christ because I know if he gave me the opportunity to have a new beginning he will do the same for others.

God has opened the doors for us to preach in the prisons in Arkansas. He has also given us a special place in our hearts for the people of Arkansas and we continue to keep you in our prayers. May God continue to bless you richly!

I grew up in a Christian home and went to the church following some Jewish customs. My mother was the strong believer at the time. My father was a very good man, but during my childhood did have a relationship with the lord.

I went to church and would sit as my uncle would teach the word of God with fire and passion. As a young boy, I knew the power of prayer that I learned from my mother. My mother was a prayer warrior and would pray for many people on a daily basis including my father.

I began my career in law enforcement thirty-three years ago and will be retiring December 29th, 2011. During my third year in law enforcement, I married my beautiful and awesome wife. We had two beautiful daughters. During our early years of marriage, I was not walking with the lord and neither was my wife. She grew up in a Catholic home but the only time she went to church with her family was during the holidays. The study of God’s word was not in her home. She did have awesome parents who I loved very much. As time went on my wife started seeking the lord. We had a good life with its up and downs but something was missing. Well those who seek the Lord will find him and she did. Twenty years ago she found him and turned into a ball of fire for the lord. She is a prayer warrior and study’s God’s word. One day she asked me to go to church with her and I did many years ago. The fire was re-ignited in me when I heard God’s word taught. And now all my family serves the lord.

We lost our parents at very young ages. But with the power of prayer, my father and my wife’s parents came to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. So we know one day we will see them again. Teaching God’s word in my life and I will serve him all my days.

In 2022 I was ordained as an associate pastor at my church.