California Practical Chaplain Association

The California Practical Chaplain Association was established for the purpose of recruiting, training and supporting men and women who wish to serve God in various fields of Chaplaincy. The CPCA is a registered non profit corporation in the State of California.

Our primary goal is to interface with both ministerial and secular worlds for the purpose of promoting tolerance and understanding, and to provide professional, trained, and dedicated Chaplains in the work force. We accomplish this by providing training, recognition and certification for working Chaplains in various fields of Chaplaincy.

There are several areas of Chaplaincy. Many people are involved in ministries that are actually Chaplaincy and don’t realize it. They lack 3 things in order to be a Chaplain:
Training
Certification
Credentials

The C.P.C.A. endorses all types of Chaplaincy and recognizes the needs for coverage. Some areas of coverage are…

Collegiate - Fire - Hospice - Hospital - Industrial - Jail & Prison - Military - Motor Cycle - Surfing - Police - Search & Rescue - Sports And Transportation

If you are working in an area of Chaplaincy not listed, please contact us. We will determine if it falls within one of our programs.

 

Our Chief and Senior Command Staff

 

Rev. Robert L. Perkins Ph.D. C.P. B.C.E.T.S. - Chief of Chaplains, California Practical Chaplain Association

Rev. Robert L. Perkins Ph.D. is the Executive Director and Chief of Chaplains for the California Practical Chaplain Association. Dr. Perkins is a Clinical Psychophysiologist, Professor, Writer, Educator and Police Chaplain specializing in guiding people to maximize their life to the fullest potential.

Robert is a 14 year law enforcement veteran and former Army Officer. Robert recieved his Master's Degree in Theology in 2002 and became an ordained minister with the United Christian Faith Ministries that same year. Robert continued his education and recieved specialized training and certification as a Police Chaplain through the International Fellowship Of Chaplains. In 2004 Robert received his Doctorate in Practical Chaplaincy.. Robert's written academic work was published into a textbook entitled "The Practical Guide To Police Chaplaincy" . In 2013 Robert received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychophysiology. He is currently a Professor of Applied Psychophysiology at the College of Certified Psychophysiologists in Anaheim California.

Robert is a Licensed Clinical Psychophysiologists and Board Certified expert in Traumatic Stress and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. He is also a certified P.O.S.T. Instructor in the State of California and Therapist in the area of Sexual Dysfunction & Sexual Addiction. He has served on the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Critical Incident Stress Foundation and the Global Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Robert is the author of several books on the subject of Chaplaincy, Sexual Addiction and Sexual Dysfunction.

 

Tom Sheltraw - Deputy Chief Of Chaplains,

Tom Sheltraw is the Deputy Chief of Chaplains and Director of First Responder Services of the California Practical Chaplain Association. Deputy Chief Sheltraw recetly completed the Academy Instructor Certification Course and is a P.O.S.T. Certified Instructor in the state of California. He received his Bachelor of Pastoral Care & Counselling in 2019 and is an ordained Police & Fire Chaplain. Deputy Chief Sheltraw is currently working towards is Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychophysiology. Deputy Chief Sheltraw has been an entrepenuer for over 29 years and specializes in business development and strategic planning. He is also the founder and president of a non profit ministry, BBQ House Ministries which specializes in barbecuing for first responders. He has a passion for the wellbeing of others, specifically the first responder world. He is currently one of the Senior Instructors for the P.O.S.T. Law Enforcement Chaplain Course as well as the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Certification. He holds many certifications for advanced peer support and crisis intevnetion.

Assistant Chief Of Chaplains Paul Lozada -. Director of Special Operations Ministry

During Assistant Chief Lozada's Law Enforcement career with San Francisco Police Department he was assigned to an Intelligence Unit, Special Operations Group, Federal Task Force, Homicide Division, Special Investigations Division, Gang Task Force, Narcotics Division, Fencing Detail, Vice Crimes, Plainclothes Unit, and Patrol Division for over Thirty-seven years. He made over twenty thousand Felony Arrests during his career ranging from Narcotics to Homicides.

In Federal and State courts, he is qualified as an Expert in Gangs and Narcotics. While serving in the Federal Task Force, Gang Task Force, and Violent Crimes Task Force, he was responsible for coordinating and supervising officers assigned to our detail.  He was involved in numerous Undercover Drug/Buy programs and the preparation and executions of Search and Arrest Warrants. He worked closely with numerous Local Police Agencies throughout the State of California, out of State Police Agencies, California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Immigration & Naturalization Service, United States Secret Service, U.S. Marshall’s Service, United States Postal Inspection Service” in Organized Crime Investigations, Narcotic, and Gang Related Investigations/Arrests. 

In the TV and Film Industry, Assistant Chief Lozada is a Producer, Writer, and Consultant to Top Hollywood Directors. His credits include: Training Day, Tears of the Sun, Brooklyn's Finest, Olympus has Fallen, Magnificent Seven, Equalizer I & II, ICE TV Series, Streets of L.A., to name a few. Numerous other Film Projects are in pre-production. He is the author of the best selling book "Officer 1Eight7 -The Trials & Tribulations Of An Undercover Cop"

Commander Fritz Dickerson -. Director of Administration and Support Services

 

Captain Anthony Morales -. Director of Combat Sports Chaplaincy

Captain Anthony Morales is Founder and CEO of Victory In Performance Mixed Martial Arts (VIPMMA) academy in Pleasanton California. Anthony has been teaching martial arts and motivating students for over four decades. Some of his current students include professional fighters, Fortune 500 CEO’s, celebrities, actors, military and law enforcement personnel.

VIPMMA is an elite Mixed Martial Arts academy in the Northern California Bay Area that specializes in a variety of mixed martial arts to promote self defense to the general public, specialized training for professional combat sports, as well as defensive tactics to Military and Law Enforcement personnel. VIPMMA also focuses on Health & Holistic Wellness programs for corporate businesses and private individuals. Anthony is also a assistant trainer/coach for the professional fight team at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose California under Javier Mendez and Bob Cook. Utilizing the philosophy instilled in him by martial arts, that of mind, body, and spirit, Anthony broke records and set new milestones in various real estate mortgage companies he worked for, and eventually started his own successful mortgage company, California Capital Mortgage in Pleasanton California. Having a reputation in the mortgage industry for over 23+ years, he contributes to his success by applying the martial arts philosophy to his daily life. With this, his career and business ventures were heightened to another level.

As an entrepreneur, he is the inventor of a virtual coaching punching bag, the VIP Coach Monitor. The VIP Coach Monitor is a 7 feet stand alone heavy bag embedded with sensors, a large touch screen monitor to choose the users workout and coach, and a overhead Sound Dome that plays music blended in with verbal commands and inspiration from virtual coaches. The alpha prototype debuted at Google Headquarters in Mountain View California for user testing and feedback. Anthony was also hired by Google management to teach Muay Thai as part of Google’s wide diverse fitness programs.

Anthony is a certified Police Chaplain by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.), as well as The California Practical Chaplain Association (CPCA) as a Critical Incident Stress (PTSD) Debriefer, he is certified by the State of California, and The Ontario Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

Captain Ken Hardesty -. Director of Training / P.O.S.T. Liason Officer

Captain Ken Hardesty is Police Corporal with the City of Davis Police Department and serves as a , Use of Force Trainer, Field Training Officer, Peer Support Coordinator, Training Coordinator Founder with that department. Prior to joining Davis Police Department Captain Hardesty spent 17 years serving the San Jose Police Department and 6 years with the South Bay Regional Police Academy and 2 years as a Deputy Sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff Department. Captain Hardesty is a retired Sergeant with the United States Marine Corps where he served his country honorably for years. He has Bachelors of Science in Political Science from American Military University and a Certificate In Police Mental Wellness from the College of Certified Psychophysiologists.

Captain Eric Morgentern -. Liason Officer Los Angeles County Sheriff Department

Captain Linda Palmer -. Liason Officer RIssho Kosei-Kai / Director Of Training & Development

 

Captain Amber Lara -. Director of Dispatch and Communications Services