Chaplaincy Program

The Lake County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) is committed to providing assistance to its employees and their families in time of need. Additionally, Sheriff's Office Chaplains can sometimes be of assistance to the public when dealing with the Office in sensitive situations.

Some of the areas where a Sheriff's Chaplain can be of assistance are as follows:

  • Assist members when there is an accident involving serious injury or death, and when there is a need to provide comfort and counsel to injured persons and their families
  • After family notification, will respond to the hospital when a member has been seriously injured or killed
  • Provide advice, counsel and spiritual support to Sheriff's personnel and their families, upon request
  • Attend and participate, when requested, in funerals of active or retired members of the Sheriff's Office
  • Assist Sheriff's officials in making notification to family members of Sheriff's personnel suffering serious injury or death
  • Visit sick family members of Sheriff's personnel who are confined to a hospital
  • Assist in making referrals for qualified and specialized professional counseling where circumstances indicate or are requested
  • Counsel with youth and their families upon request
  • Comfort and console victims and relatives in the case of crime, accidents and disaster
  • Participate in agency and community events by giving invocations, addresses and benedictions where and when appropriate
  • In cases of homicide, suicide, accident or natural causes, make death notifications as requested by the agency

Meet the Chaplains

Chaplain Steve

Steve is the Pastor of the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, where he has served since 1999. He has been an ordained Presbyterian Minister (PCUSA) for 36 years. He earned a Bachelors of Arts (BA) from Bethany University, a Masters of Arts (MA) from fuller Theological Seminary. A Master of Divinity from San Francisco Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Union Seminary. Prior to coming to Kelseyville, Steve served churches in Skagway, Alaska and Washtucna, Washington. While in Skagway, Steve was a member of the volunteer fire department, serving as a dispatcher, communications officer and chaplain.

Chaplain Rick

Rick is the pastor of Lake County Bible Fellowship in Lakeport, where he has served since 2013. He has over thirty years of ministry experience in California, Texas, and Arizona. He earned a Bachelors of Social Work from Texas State, a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Chaplain Mike

Mike Suski is a senior Pastor of Lakeport Christian Center. he has pastored as an ordained minister in Europe and the U.S. since 1976. He earned a BA from Continental Theological Seminary in Brussels, Belgium and a MA from George Fox University in Oregon. Mike has served as a District Presbyter since 1998, overseeing regional churches and participating in the Governing Board of the Northern-California District Council of the Assemblies of God. He also serves as a Chaplain for other agencies as well as participating in the local Ministerial Association.

Chaplain Shannon

Shannon is the Manager of the Community Integration for Adventist Health Clearlake. She has been an ordained Disciple of Christ Minister (CCDOC) for over 25 years. She earned a BA in Religion and International Relations from Scripps College, and a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion. Prior to moving to Lakeport, Shannon served churches in California, Virginia, and Iowa. She began as a Volunteer Chaplain with LCSO in February 2000 and has been active in disaster recovery efforts in Lake County.

Chaplain Johnathan

Reverend (Rev.) Green is the Senior Pastor of the Praises of Zion Baptist Church of Clearlake, California. As pastor, he is committed to teaching and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has had the privilege of serving as pastor since March 2009. Rev. Green is a graduate of the Faith Evangelical Seminary in Tacoma, Washington where he received his BA and Master of Divinity degree. He is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Christian University of Southern Indiana. Pastor Green is an accomplished church musician and an avid bass fisherman.

Chaplain Cara

Terry Cara is a retired Army Reserve Chaplain and minister. He has pastored churches in Northern and Southern California for 40 years, with 14 years of ministry in Lake County. He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received his BA from California Baptist University and his Masters of Divinity from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He retired from the military in 2012 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His training includes:

  • Family counseling
  • Hospital ministry
  • Post-traumatic stress
  • Combat stress
  • Suicide intervention
  • Morals and ethics
  • Chaplaincy ethics
  • Religious accommodation

Chaplain Cara is also a member of the Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue.

Chaplain Tim

Tim Wynacht has served as a minister in Lake County for 30 years. He attended Rhema Bible Training Center and was licensed through that ministry and ordained through Lakeport Baptist Church. Tim is proud of his connection to Lake County and the Lake County Sheriff's Department in particular.