Sheila Malmo, the first chaplain of the Bernalillo Fire Department, offers spiritual and emotional support to first responders in Sandoval County, helping those who dedicate themselves to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.
Malmo, who also serves as chaplain for Sandoval County and Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue Departments, points out that her role, like all chaplains, is entirely voluntary. She provides a supportive presence, confidential care and helps first responders navigate emotional and spiritual challenges, offering compassion and fostering resilience without imposing religion.
“I don’t want to push religion on anyone,” Malmo said. “That’s not what a chaplain does, but I do want to be able to reflect God’s presence to other people so that they feel comfort and peace when I’m with them.”
Malmo, a licensed and nondenominational chaplain ordained by the International Fellowship of Chaplains, has a decade of disaster relief experience and is prepari
ng to deploy to the Bahamas in January to assist with relief efforts.
She has worked with the Rio Rancho Fire Department for about eight years and the police department for about seven years.
According to Malmo, she is originally from Rochester, N.Y., and has lived in Florida, Kentucky and Arizona, where she met her husband.
Her path to chaplaincy began when she was inspired by the idea of helping people in need and recognized her natural ability as a listener. With encouragement and mentorship from her pastor, she explored chaplaincy programs and decided to pursue the role, committing herself to supporting others during their most challenging moments.
According to Malmo, her approach focuses on offering a nonjudgmental presence, a listening ear, and comfort in confidentiality. She describes chaplains as embodying a “ministry of presence,” offering support simply by being there.
“The Lord has a way of telling me that’s where I’m supposed to be and I know that I’m doing what I should be doing,” she said.
Malmo said she continuously undergoes training to support first responders, including federal-level certifications, resilient leadership courses and psychological first aid programs.
“There are always things that you can learn,” Malmo said. “Those things are to be able to help me know when I’m looking at someone who needs more help than I can give them. Because I’m not a counselor, I’m just a chaplain.”
Malmo said first responders often encounter “world-changing” events, such as death or accidents and are exposed to traumatic sights and smells. She aims to help them process these experiences and cope with the emotional and spiritual impact.
The work of chaplains extends beyond first responders, according to Malmo.
“If you need anything, just need someone to talk to, you could also call the nonemergency dispatch and ask for a chaplain to come by if you need any help, someone to talk to,” Malmo said.