Staff Reports
Pastor Robert Vester, of Westside Community Church in Columbus, senior chaplain at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, was elected and sworn-in as the Region 4 director at the International Conference of Police Chaplains training conference on March 15.
As regional director, Vester will oversee 450 chaplains in Region 4 which includes: Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
The International Conference of Police Chaplains has been serving law enforcement chaplains since 1973. Their mission is to develop professional law enforcement chaplains through dynamic education and support.
“It is a special privilege to serve those who serve,” Vester said. “Now, being able to serve others who serve those who serve, in a time when it is needed more than ever, is a very special blessing and opportunity.”
Vester’s responsibilities include resourcing chaplains through education and equipping and furthering chaplaincy through the regional representatives in the seven states he serves.
“Chaplain Vester told me that he would be here anytime he is needed — and he has been,” Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers said. “He goes above and beyond, and now he has an opportunity to serve even more by serving as ICPC’s Region 4 director. Pastor Vester is one of those who not only ‘talks the talk’ but ‘walks the walk’ as well. Our (sheriff’s department) family is very lucky to have him as one of our agency chaplains.”
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department has four chaplains: Vester, David C. Bosley, Keith Maddox and Karen Haggerty.
