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Pastor Dan Overbo of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer has been named the first chaplain for the Watertown Sheriff’s Department.
The Codington County Sheriff’s Department recently added a chaplain to its ranks.
Pastor Dan Overbo of Watertown was named the department’s first chaplain about six weeks ago. Having a chaplain on board is something Sheriff Brad Howell has wanted for a long time.
“It’s something that’s been in my back pocket for quite a while,” Howell told the Watertown Current. “There’s a lot of stress that goes with working in this department, and I wanted another tool to help the staff.
Chaplain is a volunteer position, so no county money will be spent. Howell said Overbo is a great fit for the job.
“He really clicked with the staff right from the beginning,” Howell said. “That’s the kind of person I was looking for, somebody who fits in with the culture here.”
For now, Overbo is working with just the staff, but eventually he will interact with the prisoners as well.
“What’s neat about Brad,” Overbo said, “is that he really cares a lot about his employees and their mental health. For years, that has been swept under the carpet pretty much everywhere, but it’s real important for those folks in their position.”
Overbo is lead pastor at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, where he serves with his wife, Pastor Laura Overbo. He is a Devils Lake, North Dakota, native who grew up in Minnesota. Before being named pastors at LCOOR a little more than a year ago, the Overbos served an Evangelical Lutheran Church of America congregation in Volga, South Dakota.
This is his first chaplain appointment, but he has some experience in the role.
“To become an ELCA pastor, you need to do 400 hours of chaplaincy in a hospital. So I did 400 hours at Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. It was very hard, but it was a good experience.”
He said his early interactions with staffers have been positive.
“When I first met all of the deputies and staff members, I gave them all my card so they all have my cell phone number. They know that I’m in their corner whenever they need me. We’re working with just the staff at this point, but then it will evolve to include the prisoners. I wanted to start with the staff to build that relationship first.”
He said he is looking forward to eventually helping the prisoners, as well.
“I see it as my civic duty to give back in that way, to help them. What’s nice is that it’s nondenominational. I’m not saying that you need to come to LCOOR. This is just the basic God loves you. You are a child of God. You are not alone. Basic preaching they need to hear.”
Overbo has joined the International Conference of Police Chaplains. In March, up to 100 police chaplains from around the region will meet at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown for some training.
Overbo does have one complaint about his new gig.
“I started about six weeks ago. But I still have not gotten my badge,” he chuckled. “I do get Chaplain’s badge. It’s not a little plastic thing or a sticker; it’s a legit badge!”
