Chaplain Tim Thompson

Founder

The Sierra Law Enforcement Chaplaincy was formed by the vision of Rev. Tim Thompson who was serving at the time as the associate chaplain to the Sacramento Police and Sheriff’s Department and California State Police. In addition, Tim was a reserve police officer and deputy with these departments. He served these agencies as a law enforcement chaplain for seven years. At the time Chaplain Thompson lived in El Dorado County and often when he was responding to an officer emergency in the middle of the night, he would hear a voice inside his head as he drove in the darkness down the hill to Sacramento, “Why do you export this ministry outside your county? Why not do something for the officers right here in the county where you live?” Sierra Law Enforcement Chaplaincy has been serving law enforcement in since 1992.

Chaplain Betsy Vanderpool

Executive Director and Senior Law Enforcement Chaplain

BetsyVanderpool@sierrachaplaincy.com

I come from a family that has always respected and appreciated law enforcement. A California native, I grew up overseas and moved to Northern California for my undergrad studies. I fell in love with the area and people. I’ve been a Christian since I was 16 and have served the church and my community in a variety of ways ever since. I was a therapist before I accepted my call to be a pastor, and am ordained through the Evangelical Covenant Church. As a therapist, I worked with clients in outpatient mental heath, private practice, churches and in the foster/adopt system with a focus on depression, anxiety, marriage and parenting concerns, church pain and recovery from sexual abuse. I’ve continued this work as a pastoral counselor. I married my sweetheart Ed (who is a foothills native) in 1995 and we have three teenagers at home. I began serving with Sierra Chaplaincy as a volunteer chaplain and am honored to continue serving as Executive Director. I am also part of Bayside of Placerville’s pastoral team and a character coach for Union Mine’s JV football team. I am excited about the future of the chaplaincy! Our volunteer chaplains bring a wealth of experience, talent and dedication to the chaplaincy. I look forward to expanding the ministry and serving our chaplains, officers and community, while continuing our legacy of offering hope and care in difficult situations.