Chester swears in police chaplain and honors local community leaders at year-end meeting

The City of Chester's special council meeting on Dec. 22, 2025 included ceremonial items: Reverend Robert Tate was sworn in as a chaplain for the Chester Police Department, and the council presented citations honoring multiple community leaders for service and nonprofit work.

Reverend Robert Tate repeated an oath to "faithfully and diligently perform the duties of chaplain" for the Chester Police Department, promising ministry to officers and citizens and to hold personnel matters in confidence. He thanked the police and fire departments, the Chester community, and his family.

Council members then presented a series of citations recognizing local leaders and volunteers. The citation for Zulene Mayfield noted her founding of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CIRCLE) in 1992 and credited the group's advocacy and litigation with drawing attention to environmental justice issues in Chester. Mayfield accepted the recognition on behalf of CIRCLE and urged residents to get involved and informed.

Additional recognitions honored individuals including Patricia (Pat) de Miranda for founding the Will Tripoli Foundation and youth programs, Chanel Emmons Chaney for organizing grieving parents through Sunflowers and Lemons, Twyla Simpkins for decades of teaching and historical preservation work, and others who were acknowledged for community service. Several honorees described programs for children, grief support, and historical preservation and encouraged continued civic engagement.

A resident offered a public comment praising the new council's cooperative tone and thanking elected officials for a less adversarial approach compared with prior years. The meeting closed with holiday greetings and an adjournment.

Attributions and quotes in this article come from the meeting record and the individuals who accepted citations.