Leadership

Dr. Steven Bell is a licensed and ordained Pastor who serves as a full-time pastor at City Hope Church and as the Head Police Chaplain for the City of Beaufort Police Department. With over a decade of experience as a police chaplain, Steven has provided compassionate support and spiritual guidance to law enforcement officers and their families. He considers it a profound honor to serve those who protect and serve the community, offering encouragement and care in times of need. Steven’s dedication reflects his deep commitment to faith, service, and the well-being of those in public safety.

Cathleen is a Battalion Chief with Boiling Springs Fire District who serves as full-time Fire Chaplain as well as lead pastor of New Life worship Center in Spartanburg, SC.  Having served as a full-time Firefighter, she is passionate about mental health, emotional wellness, and raising awareness of PTSD/PTSI for first responders and the impact it can have on families.  She values chaplaincy as the ministry of presence to help promote spiritual wholeness, healing, intervention, and support.  She is a Master Scuba Diver as well as a SC Licensed Auctioneer.

 Reverend Andrew Putnam has been an ordained ministers in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination for 34 years. He has served as the denomination’s moderator (president) and parliamentarian. He is a graduate of USC (undergrad degrees in Accounting and in Computer Engineering) and has a Masters of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary. During seminary he worked as a city police officer and sheriff’s deputy. In the ministry he has served as Chaplain for the Florence Sheriff’s dept. and is currently a chaplain with the Rock Hill City Police Dept. He’s been fortunate to travel around the world in short term missions work, speaking engagements and archeological/historical fellowships. He and his wife, Tiffany, have seven children and two grandchildren. 

Jay Ortiz is the Chaplain for North Myrtle Beach Fire/Police Departments.  Prior to being with the city, Chaplain Ortiz Pastored a Church for 8 years.  The first four years he was an assistant Pastor, the last four he was the Lead Pastor.  He has been with the City for 16 years. Chaplain Ortiz started as a Firefighter/Class III Police Officer, then promoted to Deputy Fire Marshal where he served for 12 years.  Six years into his tenure, he was appointed Chaplain for Fire and Police departments.  He served in a part time roll as Chaplain until August of 2023 when he was appointed full time Chaplain.  
Chaplain Ortiz has a beautiful wife, Sommer and two beautiful daughters, Amia and Ariana and his son-in-law Grant.  He has also been blessed with two grandsons, Leo and Teddy. 

Chaplain Doug Simmons has provided clinical pastoral care, particularly in hospice, for many years. He also serves as a Chaplain for McLeod Health in Florence, Palmetto Rural Fire Department, and the Darlington County Coroner’s Office; he has been a public safety chaplain since 2010. Doug and his wife Terry enjoy competing/judging competition barbecue and SCUBA diving in his home state of Florida. 

Jude Peck serves as a volunteer chaplain for the Lexington Medical Center, the American Legion Post 194, and Caris Hospice in Columbia, SC. An Air Force veteran, Jude brings both military service and extensive professional experience to his chaplaincy calling.

In his primary career, Jude works as a commercial real estate advisor specializing in representing churches and faith-based organizations in property transactions across the country.

Jude's volunteer chaplaincy work extends beyond hospital and hospice settings. He leads regular devotional services at assisted living facilities in the Columbia area, leads two men's Bible studies each week, and enjoys participating in F3 Nation fitness boot camps.

Married to Judy for 40 years, they have two adult children and reside in Columbia, SC, where they worship at Hope Lutheran Church.

Chaplain Doctor Dave DeDonato has served in all four components of the US Army as a field artillery officer (Vietnam vet) and troop, staff, and hospital chaplain for a total of 38-1/2 years of service. Additionally, he has served as a first responder chaplain for 20 years with Lexington County Public Safety (fire/rescue, EMS & dispatch) and Lexington Police Department (Senior Chaplain). and is an International Conference of Police Chaplains Diplomate and a Federation of Fire Chaplains Master Fire Chaplain. He serves as a certified instructor for both organizations. An ordained United Methodist minister, Dave helped found SCPSCA and served as its first president (2017-2019). He also earned his Doctor of Ministry from CIU Columbia Biblical Seminary in 2019. Married to Ann, they have two children (Martha & Sean), two granddaughters (Marrett & Lauren), and two great grandsons (Christopher & Davis).