Jeremiah Larson, Chief of Police, City of El Cajon, CA
Q: How did attending Bible College (AFLBS) change or affect your life? How did that time prepare you for family and career?
First and foremost, attending Bible College helped me build a true relationship with Jesus. I was raised in a Christian home (by two Bible College graduates!) and always believed in Jesus and the sacrifice He made for me. However, I was not proactive in my relationship with Jesus until Bible College. Frankly, it is still something I work on today. I have always had the faith – but I am consistently working on putting my faith into practice and walking with Jesus. The other way Bible College changed my life was providing me with life-long relationships and deep friendships with other Christians. People I can reach out to today, 30 plus years later, and I know they will pray with me, give me advice, and be the iron to sharpen iron in my life when needed. My time in Bible College prepared me for my family by helping me to learn to love like Jesus loves me, and to put my family before myself. It helped me prepare for my career in law enforcement in many ways. One – it allows me to see people I have contacted in the course of my career as loved by Jesus, not just as bad people or criminals – although some of them were definitely bad people. My time at Bible College helped me with being empathetic toward others in times of crisis. I think the biggest way it helped me, especially in a profession where the fight between good and evil is lived out daily, is knowing God has a plan for me, a plan for my future, and ultimately a plan for this world and everyone in it. I don’t know how someone could be in law enforcement and NOT be a Christian. I don’t think I would be able to do this job without my faith.
Q: How did that time/training impact how you lead now? How did it prepare you to face challenges today?
My leadership style has always been servant leadership. Most leadership books will probably lay out several different styles – autocratic, democratic, transformational, transactional, etc., and give varying times where all may apply. Learning as much as I could during Bible College about Jesus, His Word, and watching others around me live it out – taught me servant leadership is the failsafe style! I have worked on this as well over the years and continue to work on it daily. If any decision I make as a Police Chief is done with “me” in mind – I’ve already failed. I have to put others first. Any decision I make now is based on my core beliefs and principles – my faith. Major decisions that will impact the community, the department, or individual lives – I pray over those decisions for days and weeks sometimes before making them. Bible College prepared me for the challenges I face today, again, by reinforcing what I was taught growing up. God is in control. God has a plan; He is all-knowing and never changes. When this job gets chaotic, and it often does, God does not change. I often take comfort in that truth.
Q: You boldly live out your witness in faithful service, it is important to you that others know “who” you are in Christ, what motivates you to lead in such a way?
This life on earth is not forever, but we will live forever. We will either live with our Heavenly Father forever, or in eternal separation from Him. The thought of eternal separation for some people I care deeply about is tragic to me, and should be to every Christian. This means I have to take every opportunity I have to share my faith. In my position in local government, sometimes that is subtle and sometimes it can be boldly proclaimed. When people know where I stand with my faith, it often gives me the opportunity to talk about it on a personal level when I am asked. The church our family goes to is in the city where I am the Police Chief. The private Christian school all of my kids have attended, and some still attend, is in the city as well. This provides me a lot of opportunities to talk to people in a non-official capacity about my faith and beliefs – and they know my work role. A lot of this information manages to get back to the community and to the department. This is also another way I am able to lead in a way that will hopefully shine a light on Jesus and what He has done for me.
Q: Your calling to law enforcement today is taking a beating yet, you stand firm in honoring the Lord despite the rough terrain you travel. Having Bibles on your desk ready to show others where the real answers are is only part of how you choose to share your faith and follow the mission of FLBCS to serve the Lord. Tell us more of your perspective.
Many people see today’s environment as adversarial toward police – and any student of history would know that it is worse now than ever before. I choose not to see it like that. Today is the day God has placed me, and all of law enforcement, in our positions. God knows what He is doing for sure! So, I choose to be proud of the culture I am trying to foster at this police department and to be proud of the men and women choosing this job today. A life of service is probably not easy for anybody, so just because it may be a little harder to navigate in certain seasons of life – God still called me to a life of service. I stand firm in knowing I work for God, not the City of El Cajon. Since I know I’m called, and I know God is in control – I can only choose joy and confidence in my job despite societal influences.
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