Chaplain Terry McDonald
Police chaplain · Crisis debriefing specialist · Brownwood, Texas
Terry McDonald is a veteran police chaplain, ministry leader, and crisis debriefing specialist whose work in public safety focuses on providing critical psychological and spiritual support to first responders facing high-impact trauma. A former chaplain with the Brownwood Police Department in Brownwood, Texas, McDonald has dedicated years of service to supporting officers, emergency personnel, and communities through the immediate aftermath of critical incidents.
Alongside his public safety ministry, McDonald serves as the president of House of Wheels, Inc. He is also an active member of the Praise and Worship team at High Mesa Cowboy Church in Brownwood, Texas, combining a deep personal faith with hands-on community leadership.
Response to the 1991 Luby’s Mass Shooting in Killeen
On October 16, 1991, the town of Killeen, Texas, became the site of one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. During a busy lunch hour at Luby’s Cafeteria, a lone gunman drove his pickup truck through the front window of the restaurant. Exiting the vehicle armed with two semiautomatic handguns, the perpetrator opened fire on the trapped patrons and staff. Before dying by suicide, the attacker killed 23 people and wounded 27 others.
Trained in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD), Chaplain McDonald was called upon to assist in the high-stakes mental health and pastoral response following the disaster. Working alongside first responders, law enforcement officers, and grief counselors, McDonald helped guide emergency personnel through the acute psychological shock, moral injury, and cumulative trauma associated with processing a mass-casualty scene.
Field Expertise and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
McDonald’s work highlights the vital role of specialized chaplaincy in law enforcement wellness. Rather than relying on traditional pastoral care alone, his background in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing emphasizes:
Peer Support & Confidentiality: Providing a safe, confidential environment for officers to talk through traumatic experiences without fear of professional stigma.
Trauma Processing: Walking first responders through structured debriefings to mitigate the long-term risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Long-Term Resilience: Helping officers and emergency workers rebuild personal and spiritual resilience following extreme incidents of public violence.
Through his service in Brownwood and his response to national crises like the Luby's tragedy, Chaplain Terry McDonald has helped strengthen the framework for trauma-informed police chaplaincy across Texas.