About CLEF - San Diego
Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship is a faith-based non-denominational Christian non-profit Para-church organization committed to a Biblically oriented outreach to the law enforcement community of San Diego County. We strive to do this through a variety of approaches as the Holy Spirit leads with opportunity, insight, answer to prayer and spiritual burden driven by personal involvement with law enforcement agencies and personnel. We believe the Lord established this ministry and provides for it as He sees fit, altogether spiritually, physically, financially and materially. We strive to be faithful to and with God’s Holy and inspired written Word, profitable for our teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, that we may present each man adequate and equipped for God’s calling upon him. And certainly the goal of 
our instruction is love from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.
Modern law enforcement is fraught with every manner of spiritual darkness and difficulty. Our society struggles with turmoil over fundamental issues of right and wrong, with Truth itself held suspect and compromised by moral relativism. Those in the law enforcement profession come face to face with the corruption of the evil within us all on a daily basis. To do their job well requires far more than they have to draw from in themselves, and, spiritually, those who trust in God must look to Him for that adequacy. Law enforcement has been given the responsibility for moral leadership in the community, and as such, ethics, morality, a correct understanding of duty, compassion and a high regard for human dignity are all important factors in the decisions they must make every day to protect it. To be effective they must also safeguard their own inward character of fidelity with the moral virtue that both strengthens and preserves their ability to lead, and shields them from the onslaught of what they must lead against. Thus is it imperative that they be compelled by the Truth, and committed to the integrity of uprightness. Without a firm grip on the axioms of right and wrong that maintain a foundation for honor and rectitude, instead of providing stability, they fall to mischief, compromising the vanguard of the community’s defenses. Our endeavor is to affirm in them the skills, calling and charge that God has placed upon them to be the righteous warriors of a trustworthy government, and to embrace His promises professionally and personally that they might know the satisfaction, security and significance of trusting Him for the life He has given them.
Our History
Christians In Government was founded in 1974 in Los Angeles by the late Hubert Mitchell and his son, Daniel, its original Director. Its purpose was from the beginning to serve as a ministry outreach to all government workers in public service in the metropolitan areas of L.A. In 1987, Herb Smith, a former San Diego Police officer, searched for organizational covering and accountability for an outreach ministry to law enforcement in San Diego, and contacted CIG to become an extended ministry under them. This was granted in September of that year, and CLEF has ministered under the Board of CIG ever since. In 2008, after the retirement of Daniel Mitchell, the CIG Charter was transferred to CLEF and moved to San Diego, and remains an evangelical, non-profit, non-denominational organization committed to helping Christian government workers in personal growth and effective witness on the job with their words and actions, introducing colleagues to the reality of Jesus Christ. It endeavors to assist Christians to meet with one another at regular times for devotional prayer, Bible study and other opportunities for spiritual growth and outreach. It also encourages the integration of faith with job responsibilities through the exercise of moral and ethical principles from Scripture as the standard for absolute truth. It advises and supports those seeking to establish prayer and study groups in their government workplace, and serves as a liaison for inter-group activities.
CLEF today is administered by four men, Executive Administrator Herb Smith and Administrators Dale Larimore, Joe Davis, and Phil Bozarth, who, by God’s calling, have made it their life’s work to serve the men and women in law enforcement with what they need spiritually and emotionally to carry out their commission. The strength of every officer’s resolve must come from within and based on the absolutes that govern all of life.
CLEF Administrators maintain outreach through officer Bible Study groups, the Annual L.E. Prayer Breakfast hosted in conjunction with and fellow police and sheriff chaplains (which also includes Fire Fighters and draws approximately 700 from various agencies and their command staffs), marital and pre-marital counseling, weddings, funerals and marriage retreats. Department involvement also incorporates ride-alongs, invocations for various department occasions (academy graduations, special ceremonies, annual community events) as well as dealing with various crisis situations where requested.
Statement of Faith
We believe...
- There is one God, embodied in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt.28:19–20; Mk.12:29; Acts 5:3-4; Heb.1:1-4; Rev.1:4-6);
- There is one mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus (I Tim.2:5);
- Man has sinned corporately in Adam, and thereby is born into this world with an inherent sin nature in alienation from God but that through God’s grace men may transcend their sinful nature and be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, God’s only Son (Jn.3:16; 14:6; Rom.3:23; I Cor.15:22; Eph.2:4-6);
- Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, becoming human flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, and that He brought the message of our only salvation through Him to a sinful world (Mt.1:20; Lk.1:34-35; 4:14-21; Jn.1:14; 10:10; 14:6; I Tim:2:5);
- He was rejected by that world, as was prophesied, and was crucified for our sins, opening the gates of heaven to all those who place their trust in Him (Mt.16:21; 20:28; 21:42; Rom. 10:9-10; I Cor.15:3-4);
- Jesus rose from the dead by God’s power, thereby breaking Satan’s hold over mankind, and ascended into heaven where He is our advocate before God (Acts 2:24,32; 3:15; 4:10; Rom.8:2; Heb.7:25; I Jn.2:1);
- If men accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior they will be spiritually born again and receive salvation, justification before God, and eternal life (Jn.1:12; 3:16; Rom.8:1-2; 10:9,13);
- The Holy Spirit lives within each believer and can empower him to defeat sin and serve God (Jn.14:16-17; 16:7-8, 13-14);
- There shall be a personal and imminent return of Jesus Christ to this world to claim His own and render his final judgment to men and all nations (Mt.24:31; Acts1:11; I Thess.4:16-17; Rev.16:19; 18; 22:12);
- The just believer will spend eternity in fellowship with God, but the unjust will be doomed to everlasting damnation in separation from God (Mt.25:31-46; Jn.3:36; Rev.14:9-11);
- The commands of God as they are presented in His Word, the Holy Bible, are to be obeyed (Deut.5:29:33; 8:3,6,11; Mr.5:17-19; II Tim.3:16);
- The responsibility of every Christian is to make the news of salvation known to as many living persons as possible (Mt.28:18-20).
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please call 858-486-1926 or visit our Contact page.
Christians in Government Board
- Roger Stafford (President)
Former Assistant Marshal, County of San Diego - Larry Moratto (Vice President)
Retired Captain, San Diego Police Department - Tom Carmody (Secretary)
Retired Sergeant, San Diego Police Department - Carl Corsi (Treasurer)
Former IRS Agent, Non-Profit Organizations - Glenn Revell
Retired Commander, San Diego Sheriff’s Dept. - Bill Hansen
Former Asst. Director, Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power - Ivan Sablan
Police Officer, San Diego Police Dept.
Christians in Government Administrators
- Herb Smith
Executive Administrator - Dale Lowrimore
Administrator - Joe Davis
Administrator - Phil Bozarth
Administrator
Our Vision
It is the vision of CLEF to reflect to and encourage our brothers and sisters in this profession to seek the Lord for wisdom, discernment, and a prudent, disciplined understanding of the Truth of God’s Word to accommodate their role as peace-keepers. All authority emanates from God, and an officer cannot effectively carry authority unless he is first aligned under and himself subject to God’s Authority, as such then able to exercise and administrate the loving kindness, justice and righteousness that are the strength and security of any community. While not every officer is a believer as such, all men are subject to authority, and by example, leadership and counsel, we strive to impart a sense of personal accountability to maintain fidelity with the public trust by staying above reproach and striving for excellence in their calling as public servants.
Support CLEF
We attempt to keep our events affordable in order to serve as many people as we can. This is made possible through the generous sponsorship of local businesses, and individuals, along with the service of many dedicated volunteers.
Our CLEF Chaplains, on the other hand, rely on their financial support from individuals who are led by God to give. We have received inquiries on how individuals could support C.L.E.F. ministries and/or individual chaplains. It’s a pretty simple process.
Any of the three options will result in a tax-deductible receipt for I.R.S. in January of the following year; however, the PayPal option will not include the portion of your donation that was retained by PayPal to cover their fees.
If you have any questions regarding donations, Please call Claudia Carmody at (760) 789-4883
Thank you for your support of our Christians in Government/Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship ministries!