The Starkville Police Department said it is deeply saddened by the loss of SPD Chaplain Dr. Ronnie B. Tucker Sr., a longtime community leader who also served as president of the Oktibbeha County NAACP and pastor of Mt. Peiler Missionary Baptist Church.
“A man of character,” the department said in a Facebook post, adding that Tucker was a friend to the department and the wider community. The post listed his roles with the police department, the NAACP and his church but did not provide further details about his death.
Police chaplains often provide spiritual support to officers, families and victims and help bridge relationships between law enforcement and communities. The Oktibbeha County NAACP is the local branch of the national civil rights organization that advocates for racial justice and community empowerment.
Tucker’s roles as a pastor, NAACP leader and police chaplain made him a prominent figure in Starkville and the surrounding county. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
