Police Chaplain Program

The Police Chaplain Program  is a  partnership with various faith-based leaders of the community who will respond and assist police and other law enforcement agencies by working together during times of crisis or incidents, to provide a more comprehensive response to those in need.

Montclair Police Chaplains

Pastor Robert C. Coles, Jr

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing in 1978. In 2011, he earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Grand Canyon University. In 1986, The Mt. Zion Baptist Church licensed Pastor Coles to preach the Gospel where he then served in numerous locations throughout the years. On May 2, 2004, Pastor Coles organized the Petra Baptist Church of Montclair where he currently serves as Sr. Pastor.

Reverend Alton Craig Dunn
The Rev. A. Craig Dunn was born and raised in Montclair, N. J. Upon graduating from Montclair High School and the receipt of a football scholarship, he attended Villanova University in Villanova, Pa. When Villanova disbanded their program Rev. Dunn transferred to The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication. Reverend Dunn is a two-time graduate of Drew Theology Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and a Master of Sacred Theology (STM).

Rev. Dunn was licensed to the Gospel Ministry in 1991 at the St. Paul Baptist Church, Montclair, NJ. Along with ministry, for more than 30 years, Rev. Dunn worked companies such as, USA Today, City and Suburban Delivery Inc. Marshall Cavendish Corporation and The New York Times.

Rev. Dunn is an Adjunct Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Pillar College in Newark, NJ. He is in the Doctor of Ministry Program at New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ. Rev. Dunn currently serves as the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Madison.
Rev Dunn is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation. He is also a Life Member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. In 24 years of ministry, he has served as an Associate Minister, Assistant Pastor and Director of Christian Education, all of which have given him a unique understanding of churches and people.

Rabbi David Greenstein
David Greenstein has served as Rabbi of Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Montclair, NJ, since August 2009. After serving for many years as a cantor and as an exhibiting artist, he received Rabbinic ordination from The Academy for Jewish Religion where he later served as Rabbi-in-Residence, President and Rosh Ha-Yeshivah. He received his Ph.D. in Kabbalah and Rabbincs from NYU. He also holds a BA (Philosophy) and an MA (Talmud) from Yeshiva University, as well as an MFA in Painting from Queens College. He is the author of the book Roads to Utopia:The Walking Stories of the Zohar (Stanford University Press, 2014). He completed his training in Police Chaplaincy with the Police Chaplain Program in March, 2015.

Reverend Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Reverend Leggett has been the pastor of Grace Church since 1981. He grew up in the neighboring town of Bloomfield, New Jersey, and received degrees from Syracuse University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary in New York.

Pastor Brian Major
Chaplain Brian Major formerly served as a Police Chaplain at Asbury Park Police Chaplain, New Jersey, and served in leadership for Cathedral International, Agape Family Worship Center, Triumphant Life, Full Gospel, Love Fellowship Tabernacle of Brooklyn NY, Elim International Fellowship and currently serves Christ Church within the Clergy Leadership Team. Chaplain Major also serves as Interim Executive Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Neptune, NJ.

Chaplain Major began his ministry as a young child in Freehold, NJ at the age of 9 at Second Baptist Church of Freehold, NJ. His love for people and passion to serve others has provided unique opportunities to help others during troubling times in their lives. Chaplain Major has also served the community through statewide outreaches, feed the hunger programs, evangelistic mission trips and Police Chaplaincy programs in NJ. Chaplain Major has served the church community for over 25 plus years and continues his service and commitment with Christ Church in Montclair and Rockaway, NJ under the leadership of David D. Ireland, Ph.D. as his Lead Pastor.

Pastor Elbert Maxwell
Pastor Elbert Maxwell has been an ordained minister with over 40 years of experience. He is a board certified Clinical Chaplain/Pastoral Counselor and has an extensive clinical counseling skills with over 2100 clinical training hours.  Pastor Maxwell is a co-founder and pastor of the Sword of the Spirit Christian Church Ministries, Inc. in Montclair since 1984.

Elder Terrance Taylor
Terrance Taylor is Overseer and Senior Pastor of Just One Prayer Away Deliverance Ministries also known as JOPA Deliverance Church, a new ministry started in 2015. Prior to starting the ministry he faithfully served at his former church, Salvation and Deliverance Church in New York City, in the following capacities: audio/video technician, choir member/head choir director, St. Paul’s Bible College registrar and instructor, Soul Seeker Outreach Team Member, Evangelistic Outreach Team Member, Men Ministerial Board Secretary and Treasurer. Elder Terrance along with his wife Pastor Shannel and a fellow clergyman embarked on a mission trip to South India in the summer of 2014 to have Holy Ghost Revival Meetings in the region.

Elder Taylor received a Bachelor of Religious Education degree in 1997 and Master of Theology degree in 2014 from St. Paul’s Bible Institute. Elder Terrance has been married to Pastor Shannel for 19 plus years. They are the proud parents of daughter Shaniah Ruth Taylor 17 years old and son Shane Micah Taylor 14 years old. l is a co-founder and pastor of the Sword of the Spirit Christian Church Ministries, Inc. in Montclair since 1984.