In the movie "Apollo 13," astronaut Jim Lovell (played by Tom Hanks) is interviewed by a reporter prior to launch. He asks if Lovell has ever been in a tight situation.

Lovell responds that once, as a Navy pilot in a wartime situation, his plane's instrument panel had been shot up. It was a pitch black night, no moon and the sea was dark as he was flying back to his carrier. The ship's lights would be out because of the wartime situation and he was scared. He had no idea how he was going to find his ship.

After nearly 35 years of law enforcement chaplaincy, that sounds to me a lot like how some peace officers feel when they have been emotionally and spiritually "shot up." They aren't certain how they are going to make it safely back to sanity. Indeed, how could we know that 62 New York peace officers, 347 firefighters and one fire chaplain would be killed in a single day six years ago?

In the Los Angeles Police Department, where between 25 and 50 percent of its officers are Catholic (NYPD is 93 percent), aggravated assaults on peace officers are up 39 percent over last year. It breaks my heart to see masked agitators among decent demonstrators throwing bottles of ice at police. I want to see these officers return to their families in one piece at the end of their watch. Sometimes, they come home broken. Sometimes, they don't come home at all because they gave everything to protect and serve.

Joseph Wambaugh has observed that police work is usually overrated for its physical and tactical dangers (the knife and the gun). But emotionally, it is the most dangerous profession. This is the side law enforcement chaplains see.

How many officers have you known who ended their careers divorced --- one, two, three times, alienated from their children because they became so cynical? The local and national law enforcement suicide statistics bear this out. Across the nation in 2001, we had 450 peace officer suicides, almost four times more than we lost to bad guys. Five years ago, there were five in LAPD suicides in a one and half year period.

Federal agencies are faring no better. Of the 87 peace officer funerals I have conducted in my career, at least 12 were suicide. Those statistics don't seem to be improving.

Suicide is a symptom of spiritual bankruptcy. I do not intend that statement as a moral indictment on those who take their own lives. But the fact is that when a person is soundly plugged in to their "higher power" (or "God" as many would say), a permanent, fatal solution to a temporary problem is just not an option. A strong prayer life, in addition to professional, emotional care, can do a great deal to mitigate clinical depression.

No, I do not think peace officers are emotionally weak or somehow spiritually deficient. Nothing could be further from the truth. Of every 100 applicants to the L.A. Police Academy, only two successfully make it to graduation. Law enforcement agencies do their best to take the top candidates. Emotional stability and moral character are highly sought-after qualities.

It is the severity of the burdens they carry that lead officers to break under pressure. Those burdens include the reality that any family that has a peace officer tends to rely heavily on that individual in difficult times. So at home and in the community, the officer is a leader.

In 1986, I set a 20-year goal to establish a house of prayer and spirituality for peace officers. Today we have a cabin on five acres in Joshua Tree --- The Desert Refuge for Peace Officers. The goal of the refuge (where all first responders are welcome) is to develop the premier police training facility in the country --- not by teaching combat tactics, or combat survival tactics, but by teaching emotional and spiritual survival tactics.

The Desert Refuge for Peace Officers is a "treasure buried in the desert." What is taught there is a pearl of great price for those who may be starving for the things of God.

In 2006, we received 110 guests at The Refuge, including a retreat for The Family Support Group (spouses of officers who have died). Visitors have enjoyed days of recollection, family retreats, work parties, strategic retreats, CISD, 12-step discussions, outdoor prayer services, sunrise Masses and great food!

Guests have included a detective and officer from Ground Zero, chaplains and officers from Louisiana and five local countries. Our long range goal is to provide overnight housing for 20 at The Refuge.

LAPD employees at all levels have strongly supported our efforts with financial assistance. One sergeant is giving $100 per month to support our efforts. I hope you will spread the word about our organization, about our goals and aspirations. Perhaps you would join our quest.

Those of you who have the benefit of having your career behind you most likely see the benefit of this project. Please encourage your friends in law enforcement to use this resource. Will you pray for us? Come visit us? Recommend to us someone who is hurting? I can't do everything, but I can do something, and with your help, that something will be significant.

Jim Lovell, flying over a very dark ocean, noticed a faint trail of phosphorescence in the water below. If his situation had not been so desperate, he might not have noticed that faint light. It was the churned wake of his ship and it led him home.

May The Desert Refuge for Peace Officers lead many officers to return to their spiritual roots and to maintain emotional good health.

Father Michael McCullough is LAPD/FBI chaplain, and executive director of the Desert Refuge for Peace Officers. He may be contacted at 2515 W. Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008-2728; (323) 298-7174.