Chaplain Lisa West
California Chaplain Corps · Chaplain & trainer
Lisa West has served as a law enforcement chaplain since 2014, devoting over a decade to supporting first responders, public safety personnel, and their families across California. Mentored from the beginning of her chaplaincy career by Senior Chaplain Mindi Russell—a widely recognized pioneer in law enforcement chaplaincy and crisis intervention—Chaplain West has developed a specialized, trauma-informed approach to public safety ministry.
Comprehensive Service through the California Chaplain Corps
As an active member of the California Chaplain Corps, Chaplain West provides critical incident response, crisis intervention, and ongoing pastoral care throughout the law enforcement ecosystem. Understanding that public safety infrastructure extends far beyond sworn personnel, her work reaches every level of emergency operations:
Sworn Officers and Command Staff: Delivering confidential emotional and spiritual support during routine duties, high-stress events, and critical incident debriefings.
First-Responder Families: Offering dedicated spousal and family support to help households navigate hypervigilance, shift stress, and secondary trauma.
Administrative and Support Personnel: Caring for dispatchers, records specialists, crime scene investigators, and administrative staff who bear heavy operational burdens behind the scenes.
Medical and Peer-Support Teams: Collaborating directly with emergency medical providers and peer support personnel to strengthen agency wellness networks.
Chaplain Training and Regional Leadership
In addition to her direct field support, Chaplain West plays a key role in preparing the next generation of first-responder chaplains. Partnering alongside Senior Chaplain Mindi Russell, she leads specialized training programs across California, equipping candidate chaplains with essential skills in crisis response, active listening, line-of-duty protocol, and compassionate care.
Through her combination of field service, departmental support, and chaplain education, Chaplain Lisa West continues to strengthen law enforcement wellness and build resilience across California’s public safety community.