Who We Are
The SCU has been serving since 2003 and are a Philadelphia based Police Chaplaincy Unit, professionally trained and fully experienced. |
Mission Statement “To provide professionally trained chaplains for spiritual and moral guidance and counseling to all members of the Philadelphia Police Department, both sworn and civilian and their families in time of need. The services of the SCU are available on the basis of need and desire. They are an optional service available by request to provide guidance, counseling and comfort in times of crisis. The SCU will also provide professional training to chaplains and other members of the police department.” When an incident occurs, a board member of the SCU will attempt to call the District Chaplain President to ascertain if help and assistance is needed/warranted. If so, the SCU will dispatch a member (s) of the SCU who will report to that District Chaplain President for assignment.
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A peek into the leadership
About The Board of Directors |
Chaplain/Reverend Luis Centeno (Founder & Board President)
born in Puerto Rico, moved with his family to Philadelphia when he was just three years old. He and his wife, Elsie, have seven biological children, the eldest 46 and the youngest 27. In addition, Lou and Elsie also have three adopted children. He credits his conversion to Jesus Christ to an experience at a Teen Haven Christian Camp. It was during that Teen Haven experience that Mr. Centeno realized his call to the Christian ministry, as well, particularly in the field of Evangelism. He received his theological education at Manna Bible Institute, and was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1989. Since then, he has completed numerous programs of training in various areas, such as Suicide Awareness, Police Chaplain Certification, and B.A. Islamic Studies. He has served in many ministries in the Philadelphia area, including Crossroad Community Center, Second Mennonite Church as one of the pastors, First Presbyterian Church of Olney, and Iglesia Evangelica Bautista. From 1988 to 2001 he was Senior Pastor of Bethel Temple at “B" St. and Allegheny Ave., where, for 16 years, he also directed the Sunrise Walk-in, a ministry to Jr. High Youth. Rev. Centeno was the pastor of the Wyoming Ave. Baptist Church in the Feltonville area from 2003 to 2010. He started Barnabas Transformation Ministry a house church in 2011 of which he is the pastor at this present time. In addition to the pastorate duties, Rev. Centeno is involved with a number of special ministries. He is the director of Open Air Evangelism, a 30-year veteran missionary of InFaith formally known as American Missionary Fellowship, and an associate missionary of Church Without Walls, where he is a Muslim Bridge Team leader, and a coordinator of Meetings for Better Understanding for Muslims and Christians. Rev. Centeno is a member of the Philadelphia Police Chaplain, and is the founder and director of the Law Enforcement Support Fellowship of Philadelphia. He is also the Northeast Region Director for the National P.O.L.I.C.E. Suicide Prevention Foundation. He is also a Chaplain for Cancer Treatment Center Of America and Chairperson of the board for Place Of Refuge and started a Police Suicide Survivor Scholarship Fund to help the survivor’s children with monetary gift for college or further education. One of the outstanding achievements of his long ministry was the founding of Pro-claimers of Hope Ministries, a faith-based addiction recovery and prevention program in West Kensington located in North Philadelphia. In 2001, he received the nation’s highest honor for community health leadership, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award, presented to only ten people each year. It carried with it a $105,000.00 grant to continue his work. As a result of this award, Representative Robert A. Brady paid tribute to Rev. Centeno on the floor of the U. S. House of Representatives and it appeared in the Congressional Record of June 25, 2001. Mr. Brady said, in part, “Mr. Speaker, Reverend Luis Centeno has demonstrated tremendous leadership in the fight against drug addiction in his community and is clearly well deserving of this prestigious community health award. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Reverend Centeno on this wonderful achievement. |
Chaplain Bill Park (Founder & 1st Director)
Bill retired from the Philadelphia Police Department with 22 years of service (11/71—3/94), has also served for 25 years in the United States Marine Corps, active and reserve. During his career with the Police Department, Bill served for 18 years on the SWAT team (AKA Stakeout Unit), which is the oldest SWAT Team in the country. He was involved with both MOVE confrontations, has served on the Granny, Grandpop, Insurance Man and Rape Details, and in many other inside stakeouts, barricaded situations and dignitary protection. Bill also served in the 22nd & 3rd Districts, PDU and helped create the Tactical Response Teams (TRT) Unit with Capt Tom Rambo (yes, that was his name). Somewhere around the age of 10, Bill accepted the Lord Jesus in his life during an altar call, but soon after that, like some teenagers, turned from God and began living a rebellious life. He was always trying to "fit in" to the world and striving to be noticed, striving to get promoted, striving to get ahead, disregarding that "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:11-12) of the Lord all his life, until one day the Lord got his attention “like being hit over the head by a 2 X 4”. While going through this most difficult time of his life, he again began his search for God by reading the Bible. It was such a difficult time, he was ready to do anything to find that one true God and would have joined any religious system to get closer to Him to change his situation. But Bill soon discovered in the Bible that God wasn't about a religious system and Jesus didn't come on this earth to start a religious system. He came to give eternal life. Bill read that when Jesus was crucified, the veil that separated God from man was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15:33) to indicate the new covenant; that God desires a close personal relationship with us. "I discovered that God wasn't about stuff and rituals; that it's faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ that saves us," says Bill. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph 2:8-9). After discovering this and the unconditional, abounding love that God has for His people, Bill rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. The Lord showed him that during that difficult time, you can call on family and friends for support and comfort and they were all there for him, all the way, but God is the source of our strength and the only one who can deliver and carry you through it! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) Bill, started attending church again and in 1993 was led to begin fellowshipping at Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia when it was then meeting in a shopping mall. A fellow Police Officer (now a retired Sgt) and Christian brother, Dennis McGarry, invited him there. "From the moment I first walked in, I felt at home there," says Bill. "I knew that this is where I was supposed to be. You can actual feel the peace and love of Christ there.” Among many of my favorite things about Calvary Chapel is the fact that I didn't have to get all dressed up to worship our Lord. I can just come as I am . . . "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Bill has undergone ministry training there and has been on staff since 1999. He has served as a counselor at the Greg Laurie Harvest Crusades when in Philadelphia. He co-led a Holme Circle Fellowship which met at Grace Bible Church in the Northeast. His wife Eileen served as the worship leader there. Bill was also involved in the leadership of the Home Fellowship Ministry for the church. There are approximately 25 of them. "Besides the ministry training, attending a home fellowship is probably the most influential thing that I have done to improve my growth as a Christian," says Bill. "The love, fellowship, prayers and unity of the saints has blessed me and our family tremendously." He also served as the Director of Publications for Eastern Christian Outreach (EChO) and co-led a monthly EChO fellowship with author Bill Alnor. Following Gods direction, they both planted Calvary Chapel of the Lehigh Valley near Allentown, PA where he served as the assistant pastor. The Lord eventually led Bill back to Philly. "I couldn't wait to see what He had in store for me next. He is the awesome, one true and living God! How can anyone deny Him?" In February 2003, God answered Bill’s prayer and he was appointed a Philadelphia Police Chaplain for the 8th District and now serves as the chaplain president. Since then, he has received his certification as a “Certified Trauma Responder” (CTR), has served with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team in Louisiana (Katrina), Binghamton, NY, Virginia Tech Massacre, Texas (Hurricane), etc, Bill, has also served as a member of the ICISF, the New Jersey CISM Team and The Red Cross Spiritual Care Team. Bill lives in the Holme Circle area of the city and has been blessed with 4 children: Tricia, Pamela, Sarah & Billy III and 4 grandchildren. He is married to the former Eileen Brown who likes to introduce herself as EileenOnJesus. |
Chaplain Noreen "Chappie" Pettaway (2nd Director)
Noreen, affectionately known as “Chappie” likes to refer to herself as an Advocate For Social And Or Justice Issues Based On A Theological Foundation. She was a member of the Philadelphia Police Department from 1979 until retiring in 2001. Graduating from the Police Academy, she was the first female assigned to one of the two remaining Fairmount Park Districts at the time. The Fighting 92nd District which was located on Lincoln Drive. After five years in patrol she was asked to be apart of a relatively new unit designed to investigate Police Corruption. Up for the challenge, and the training that was involved just seemed to peak her curiosity. Ergo, when the opportunity arose for her to further her education by attending The National Training Center Of Polygraph Science in Albany New York, she relished this new venture. As a expert examiner she was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the Academy Of Certified Polygraphists and is now a member of the prestigious International Society of Polygraph Examiners. Upon retiring she went back to school to further her education by attending Eastern University and earning a BA Degree in Biblical Studies. Not wanting to stop there she enrolled in Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia with her Master’s work in Systematic Theology. It was during this time that God wanted her to spend some quality time with Him. “You Take Care Of My People And I Will Take Care Of You!” There had been approx. four Police Officers killed in the line of duty over a few years that prompted her to reach out to her sisters and brothers in blue. Police Commissioner Ramsey had made some changes to the Police Clergy, among them renaming the corps to Police Chaplains (a more universal term). She joined the 22nd Police District Chaplain Program in 2008. And in 2011 was appointed the 1st female President of a District along with being elected 1st female Divisional Advisor. Other community work involves being a member of the 22nd District PDAC. (Police District Advisory Council). An ordained Evangelist, she is quick to concretize that, The Blood Still Works! Her other volunteer endeavors include but are not limited to: Being a Board Member of “More Than A Handout” (changing the lives of the homeless, hopeless, and hungry), Mentoring women who are in transition, Evangelizing to the indigent of society, and volunteering as a Chaplain for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. In 2014 Chappie was asked to become a Board Member of The Special Chaplain Unit in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police Department. She is a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Serve & Protect, along with other Police Organizations. |