Jackson MI PeaceKeeper's

Trooper starts Bible study for public-safety officers
Friday, March 16, 2007
By Monetta L. Harr

mharr@citpat.com -- 768-4972

Michigan State Police Trooper Larry Rothman likes reaching people at the lowest point in their life. Working midnights for five years on road patrol gave him plenty of opportunity.

Some of the drunk drivers he arrested -- rather than being belligerent -- were receptive to a prayer from Rothman, as well as to his question on their way to jail: "What did you do to get into this mess, to be in the back of my patrol car?"

Rothman, who currently works days as a community service officer, said he is tuned in to reaching out to others because of his own relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship, he said, doesn't begin and end on Sunday mornings at church.

"I feel like all of us are able to make a big impact -- (that we have) a great opportunity to help people that many of us aren't taking advantage of," he said. On his own and apart from his community service work, Rothman started a monthly Bible study for public-safety officers, from EMTs and paramedics to firefighters, police officers and prison corrections officers. It began in area restaurants and has finally found a home at Grace Church. Officers attend on their own time. Earlier this month, eight men took seats in a classroom, double the number Rothman hoped would be there.

Most had just come from work, but Kevin Caldwell, 33, had a day off. He works with Rothman, and they have been partners. "I think a Bible study like this is helpful because we know the challenges one another faces," said Caldwell, who also attends a Bible study at his church.

Mike Sawyer, 55, a supervisor at the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility, and Martin Crowley, 42, a corrections officer, have a lot on their minds with the planned closure of the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility. Crowley is concerned he will be affected, but everything is up in the air for now. Their work -- or the uncertainty of their work -- is what drew them and
others on this Monday afternoon.

Rothman started with a prayer and emphasized "a belief in God is not a weakness. You don't want to wait until the end of your days to have a relationship with the Lord. Our line of work can wreck marriages if guys go to the bar after their shift and end up making life-changing mistakes."

Rothman, who lives in Lenawee County, is starting the same type of Bible study there. He also conducts a weekly men's Bible study at his church. "My whole focus is my relationship with Christ, that's my No. 1 relationship. When I get the opportunity to share my faith, I do it," said
Rothman, 34, who is married and has three children.

Rothman's supervisor, Lt. Jim Shaw, called the Bible study a "fantastic" idea. "Sometimes police officers are perceived as rough, tough, non-feeling people, but we are exposed to many difficult, sad situations, from delivering death messages to investigating homicides. This does impact
them," Shaw said. While it isn't a common practice for officers to pray with people they
have arrested, Shaw said Rothman's use of prayer is fine so long as the suspects are receptive.
"Each officer brings to this job something specific about themselves. That's what makes police officers so unique in how they go about doing their job."

Rothman said there have even been times when the arrested individuals offer a prayer for him.
"A man told me his wife and his church were all praying for him to get over his drinking problem.At first he wanted me to drive him home because he just lived down the road from where I stopped him. I wouldn't, and he thanked me," he said.

Another time, he and his partner talked to a woman they arrested for drunk driving. Several years later, he had to go to her house to deliver the news that her boyfriend had been killed in a car accident. "She told me he was saved (accepted Jesus Christ as his savior) and they
were involved in a church. It is definitely nice to see this bear fruit," he said.

This life is certainly not what Rothman imagined. He started singing with a country band in bars when he was only 17 and in high school. Not that he's ashamed of it. In fact, "those experiences have helped me tremendously dealing with people today."

Rothman said he was saved in 1995, before he was married. He started taking law-enforcement classes and landed a job as a corrections officer before he was accepted into the state police.
Because of his Christianity, he said, he struggled for three or four years as a state police trooper -- enough so he started looking at other jobs. "Police officers see the bad side of people, they are guilty of something, while Christians try and find the good in people.

"I prayed a lot about it, and the Lord told me I am a light in the darkness for people, that's why I'm here."