Police Chief Announces the Appointment of a Police Chaplain

Chief Antonio DeVaul announces that Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart has been appointed Police Chaplain for the Takoma Park Police Department.

“It is an honor to have Rev. Dr. Fisher-Stewart as our official department Chaplain. Her compassion and expertise will be an asset to our agency and the City of Takoma Park,” said Chief DeVaul.

Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart currently serves as the assistant pastor at Calvary Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.  A native Washingtonian, prior to accepting the call to ordained ministry, she retired from the Metropolitan Police Department as a captain and then taught at the university level.  Her area of special interest is the history of policing as it intersects with race in America. She is the founder of the Center for the Study of Faith in Justice at Calvary which conducts research and creates a safe space for the discussion of issues that vex both society and the church and is the president for the Washington, DC, chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.

Rev. Dr. Fisher-Stewart is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College (BS), the University of Maryland (MS, Ph.D), American University (MS), the University of the District of Columbia (MA) and Wesley Theological Seminary (MTS).  She was the 2015 recipient of the Director’s Award, Episcopal Evangelism Society and, in 2017, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of divinity from Colgate University.

Rev. Dr. Fisher-Stewart is the mother of a son, David, who is her heart.

“As a long-time resident of Takoma Park, I am honored to be working with my police department and I thank Chief DeVaul for the opportunity to serve,” said Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart.