Northside Baptist Church pastor serves Opelika police as chaplain

Don Turner came to Opelika in 2003 to retire and lead a quiet life. Now he spends much of his week in jail.
   
Turner, 70, didn’t commit any crime — he serves as chaplain to the Opelika Police Department.
Captain Melvin Harrison of the Opelika Police Department said the department was thrilled when Turner offered his services as chaplain.
   
“We gladly took him up on his offer,” Harrison said. “He’s been such a blessing to us. We didn’t know what we were missing out on. He came into our family and there’s such comfort knowing he’s there if you need him.”
Turner said he is on call anytime but he makes a point to visit the police station once or twice a week to touch base with officers and make his presence known.
   
“I try to be visible,” he said. “I visit officers who are in the hospital for any reason and I always try to make contact with their family, too.”
   
Turner said he works hard at establishing good rapport with the  leaders and officers in the police department.
   
“The police chief is very open and I know about 65 percent of the officers by name,” Turner said. “My main role is to encourage them and let them know we’re proud of them.”
   
Turner’s dedication to encouraging law enforcement doesn’t stop there. Whenever he sees an officer around town, he’ll stop to visit or offer encouragement to the officer on the spot. “I’ve started something — whenever I come into the presence of a public servant, especially a uniformed one, I shake his or her hand and say, ‘Thank you for serving us,’” Turner said. “It blows them away, but it’s what we all should be doing.”
   
“Our public servants are on instant call to defend the freedoms we enjoy in the United States,” Turner said. “It’s a thankless job and these men and women are here to serve us. We need to let them know we appreciate their service.”
   
Turner, who also serves as pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Opelika, said the need for chaplains in law enforcement across the country is crucial.
   
“Many officers don’t trust traditional religions,” he said. “As chaplain I offer no fear but encouragement.”
   
Harrison said Turner helps him and the other officers remember what’s truly important in life.
   
“The sight of him in the office helps put perspective in our lives,” Harrison said. “You can get caught up in this job — live, eat and breathe it. He helps me become more focused and brings me back to reality.”
   
Turner doesn’t minister only to Christian officers but to all. “An officer may be the biggest atheist on two feet, but if he’s in distress I’ll be there for him,” Turner said.
   
Harrison agreed with Turner’s attitude toward officers of all faiths. “We have various denominations in the department but he’s good to comfort and minister to everyone,” Harrison said. “He’s there for all of us.”
   
Harrison said some precincts may be hesitant to have a chaplain for fear of having someone preach to them but this has never been an issue for their department.
   
“He’s not pushy and he knows when to back off,” Harrison said. “He’s not here preaching or trying to save people. Of course he’s there if we need that, but he does so much more than that.”
   
Harrison said Turner never interferes with police functions or duties but plays a supportive role. “He’s there for the aftermath,” Harrison said. “He helps us deal with stress management, family life and ethics.”
   
“It seems like society has gotten more violent — there’s more violent crime and more officers are being shot or are having to shoot in defense,” Harrison said. “He’s been such a blessing to have around.”
   
Working with law enforcement is not new to Turner. Earlier in his ministerial career he served as chaplain to the Camden County (Missouri) sheriff’s department. When he lived in North Platte, Neb., Turner served as chaplain to the local police department, sheriff’s department and the Nebraska state patrol. “While working on a psychology degree, I began offering stress evaluations to deputies,” Turner said. “I got to know the officers and this is how it all got started,” he said.
   
Turner and his wife, Donna, have six children, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.