‘This is what we’re for’: LAPD officers call in spiritual backup during pandemic
As those working in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) continue to navigate the realities of upholding the motto “To protect and to serve,” the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has added more layers of anxiety and trepidation.
But there has been evidence of officers leaning deeper into their faith through the help of Catholic clergy over the last several months, too.
One example: A half-dozen LAPD officers from the West LA Community Station, led by captain Randall Goddard and senior lead officer James Lavenson, received permission recently to attend a midweek noon Mass at St. Sebastian Catholic Church. Their Butler Avenue precinct, which includes coverage of Westwood, Pacific Palisades, Cheviot Hills, Century City, and Bel Air, is less than a half-mile away from the church campus.