Napa County Law Enforcement Mourns Chaplain Lee Shaw

NAPA, CA — Members of law enforcement throughout Napa County were mourning Napa County Law and Fire Services Chaplain Lee Shaw, who died Friday following a brief battle with cancer.

Shaw was diagnosed in May with stage 4 prostate cancer and underwent extensive treatment at a cancer healing center in Irvine before returning to Napa to live out his final weeks at home.

A public memorial service is tentatively scheduled for February.

His loss is felt throughout the Napa Police Department as well as the Napa County Sheriff's Office and all other law enforcement and fire service agencies in Napa County.

"Chaplain Shaw dedicated his entire professional life to providing spiritual guidance," Napa police Chief Jennifer Gonzales said in a statement emailed to Patch.

In the mid-1990s, Shaw was appointed as a founding member of the Napa Police Chaplain Program by then-police Chief Dan Monez. He went on to train dozens of volunteers. The chaplaincy program has helped Napa Police Department employees through difficult times over the years and Shaw's impact was felt by people across the country. He volunteered for several critical incidents, including in New York City after 911.

"Lee supported our department, other public safety agencies, and the Napa community for decades through his training and chaplain services," Gonzales said. "His legacy will forever be remembered as he played an instrumental role in shaping the spiritual well-being of Napa."

Shaw was surrounded by his loved ones at the time of his passing, and they've asked for privacy during this time, according to the Napa County Sheriff's Office.

'A Servant's Heart'

"I can’t think of words to do Justice to the incredible commitment to service Chaplain Shaw demonstrated," Napa County Sheriff Oscar Ortiz wrote in an email to Patch. "As a Sheriff-Coroner, I can certainly appreciate how much Lee did to assist our Coroner’s Bureau and investigators, helping to console family members through their most difficult experiences."

According to Ortiz, Shaw always reached out to members of the sheriff’s office on their birthdays, holidays, Peace Officer Memorial Day, on 9/11, and oftentimes just to check in on them and let them know that he, and the community, appreciate their service and sacrifice.

"Like anyone else in the community, Sheriff’s Office employees (including myself) also are subject to grief, tragedy, and loss," Ortiz said. "Lee would also reach out to department members when he learned of any personal loss or tragedy just to let them know he was thinking of them and praying for them. He demonstrated a servant’s heart, and I will miss his kind friendship."

Celebration Of Life

His family is planning to host a special public celebration of life event early in the new year and all who loved him are welcome to attend, his daughter JamieLee Shaw-Matison, wrote on Caringbridge.org.

"In light of the holiday season which is upon us, we are tentatively planning the Celebration for February, giving us adequate time to coordinate an event that honors Dad’s legacy," Matison wrote.

The service will be announced on CaringBridge and on Facebook.

"His battle with cancer was brief, but seemed an emotional eternity for us, and for all those who followed this unyielding ordeal," Matison wrote. "Yet, with great joy, we are confident that today, for him, was the best day of forever, as he was greeted by an orchestra of angels and the long-awaited words of his Savior, 'well done, good and faithful servant.'"

"At this time, our family is asking for private time to navigate our own personal grief, as we maneuver through this void. Your love and support over the years, and especially during this difficult time, have been an immeasurable blessing to us all. We look forward to seeing you at the Celebration of Life."

As of Monday night, more than $63,000 in donations were garnered through a GoFundMe campaign to help Shaw's family pay for his medical and now, funeral costs.