First chaplain for Clark County Sheriff’s Office sworn in

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Clark County Sheriff John Horch has sworn in Cari Arnsparger as the first chaplain for the sheriff’s office.

On Jan. 4, Arnsparger was sworn in with an honorary commission, a release from the county stated. She comes to the sheriff’s office through her volunteer work at County-Wide Chaplaincy.

Arnsparger has been with County-Wide Chaplaincy as a police and fire chaplain for five years, the release stated. She has completed an extensive two-year training program through the County-Wide Chaplaincy and the Responders Resource Program.

Arnsparger is also a graduate of the Police and Fire Chaplain Academy at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in Burien. She is an ordained and commissioned police chaplain, who received her ordination through Freedom Community Church.

As chaplain, Arnsparger will be assigned to the sheriff’s office’s peer support team. She will provide counseling and emotional support to employees of the agency, their families and members of the public.



Her honorary commission gives her no law enforcement authority but allows her to be an emotional support per state law, the release stated. CCSO has outfitted Arnsparger with sheriff’s office uniforms and protective gear. 

Arnsparger has been riding along with deputies on different shifts in the past few months as she has gotten to know the deputies and helped people on calls when she can, the release stated.

“Her compassion for others is already seen by many of the deputies and citizens,” the release stated. 

Arnsparger has already assisted on calls that provided comfort to individuals and has even performed CPR.

Arnsparger is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. It is there where her passion for helping others began, the release stated.