For the past 13 years, Chaplain Graham Tucker has been responding to God’s call in a unique manner — through a police radio scanner.
Tucker, who has been an Alabama Baptist bivocational pastor since his early adulthood, has dedicated a large part of his Christian service to a somewhat unusual, but beloved, calling — being the hands-on chaplain for the Andalusia Police Department.
One day in 1989 Tucker, a retired bank branch manager, was casually approached by the then-retiring police chaplain, who asked him to take over his volunteer duties. Tucker told his friend that he would pray about it and get back with him. Shortly thereafter Tucker accepted, assuming that the position would be a low-maintenance one. Little did he know what big plans God had in store for him in his new role.
The 66-year-old Tucker, who is pastor of the Alabama-Crenshaw Association’s Bethel Baptist Church, said he didn’t realize at the time just how much “policeman” he had in him. “I feel a particular kinship for the ministerial side of this work,” he shared.
Tucker has become a well-respected member of the force, and his fellow officers are quick to say how they depend on his pastoral assistance, calming presence and devoted friendship.
Words of praise poured forth from longtime police veteran Sergeant David Connor who said he has known “the Reverend” for more than a decade.
“There’s not words to describe how much Reverend Graham has helped us,” he said, explaining that Tucker’s assistance with grief counseling and death notification of family members has been invaluable to the police force. “I know if I get in a bad situation, and I can’t handle the counseling aspect of my job, I can call Graham and he will respond immediately. He’s always ‘Johnny-on-the-spot’ and is there when we need him. Everybody on the force loves him,” he added.
Tucker points out that winning the acceptance and trust of the officers he worked with did not come easily or quickly. “You don’t just walk into a situation like this and get respect. You have to earn it,” he said philosophically.
“These guys were initially very suspicious of me, especially when they know you are offering a free service.”
Tucker recalls going through a ‘testing’ period during his early days on the force. “These guys would feed me a story and see if it turned up somewhere. They wanted me to earn their trust. I had to work my way in,” he reflected.
Although Tucker has several nicknames that his comrades have lovingly dubbed him such as “Reverend,” his favorite, and probably the most often used by his friends is “Friar Tuck.”
The hearty chaplain fondly reminisced about the time he was told by the originator of the nickname that there was special meaning behind it. He confided to Tucker, “When you first came on board you were Reverend Tucker, the outsider, just like Friar Tuck initially was to Robin Hood. Friar Tuck was just considered a monk until he proved himself — then he became Friar Tuck.
You have earned your place with us and now you are on the inside looking out. You are now our Friar Tuck,” Tucker said his friend explained to him.
Tucker was flattered by the compliment and willingly responds to the name, even going so far as to use it as his e-mail address name.
Not only does Tucker serve as chaplain to the Andalusia Police force but he is chaplain-on-call for the fire, rescue and sheriff’s department. He serves as a chaplain for the Alabama state troopers as well.
The father of two and grandfather of five said his main responsibility in his chaplaincy role is giving support to the men he serves, which means not keeping an 8 to 5 schedule.
“I’m there at all hours of the day and night,” he said, adding, “Sometimes I’ll go out and ride with the guys on the night shift just to keep them company.”
Many of Tucker’s experiences have been anything but low key.
“There have been a few close calls,” Tucker confessed, remembering one particular incident in which he happened to be riding with an officer who became involved in a high-speed chase. “For awhile we were jokingly referred to as “Starsky and Hutch,” he said with a laugh — referring to the 1970s TV show about two police officers who were known for their car-chase antics.
“I offer these men any kind of support that I possibly can,” he said, his fondness for his role apparent in his voice.
“Sometimes that may mean just being their friend and giving them an ear to listen or a shoulder to lean on.”
Tucker’s love for his ministry became apparent to Ray Baker, associate with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions Christian Ethics/Chaplaincy Ministries, who, as a trained chaplain himself, noticed Tucker’s passion for his work. Baker solicited Tucker’s expertise and experience in statewide training for chaplains. Baker also sought Tucker’s aid when a request came from the Southern Baptist Convention’s disaster relief team requesting chaplains trained in crisis management and grief counseling following the September 11 tragedies.
In Tucker’s usual selfless fashion, he responded to the call for assistance, and went to help the Port Authority Police Department in New York City. Talking about his experiences of counseling members of the Port Authority is bittersweet. Tears readily appear when he describes the 18 semi-tractor-trailers, sitting side by side, that housed body parts of dismembered victims lost in the World Trade Centers disaster. “The people there were in a fog, a daze — a state of disbelief,” he said.
Tucker’s gift for bonding served him well during his week in New York where he forged lasting friendships with several officers of the Port Authority Police Department.
He described an encounter with a sergeant who invited him on his evening rounds at ground zero. “He would stop his truck and point out where something had happened and then cry a little.”
Tucker’s duties are supposed to be part time, but his commitment and devotion show otherwise. And the many hours don’t bother him. “I just love the work I do,” he said.
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