Cop Patrols the Streets and Then Preaches From the Pulpit

c. 2006 Religion News Service BIRMINGHAM, Ala. _ Police Officer Marvin Anthony Neal patrols the streets of Birmingham on most mornings, but on Sundays he patrols the pulpit at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Alabaster. Neal became pastor in August but works as a patrol officer on the 11 p.m.-7 a.m. shift in the city’s […]

c. 2006 Religion News Service

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. _ Police Officer Marvin Anthony Neal patrols the streets of Birmingham on most mornings, but on Sundays he patrols the pulpit at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in Alabaster.

Neal became pastor in August but works as a patrol officer on the 11 p.m.-7 a.m. shift in the city’s South Precinct. On a recent Saturday morning, he responded to a shooting at an apartment complex and interviewed the victim for a description of the assailant.


“Anything can happen at any given time,” Neal said.

The next day, he was in church preaching. The victim of that shooting survived, but is paralyzed from the waist down. For Neal, it was a typical weekend as a bi-vocational cop and pastor.

“I’ve seen him work a beat all night Saturday night and have to go in the pulpit on Sunday morning,” said the Rev. Timothy J. Woods Sr., pastor of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in North Birmingham, who is one of Neal’s mentors. “I pray for him.”

The members at Neal’s church tend to see him as pastor, not police, although they respect his other job. “He’s an inspiration to the church,” said Danny McKnight, a trustee for Galilee Baptist.

“He just teaches the Word and preaches the Word,” said McKnight’s wife, Mary.

Neal grew up in Detroit and moved to Alabama as a teenager. He was on the wrong side of the law as a juvenile with a misdemeanor theft charge. “I stole something and they caught me.” He was sentenced to two years’ probation as a youthful offender. “My life turned around then.”

Neal decided to pursue law enforcement as a career, but the theft charge almost kept him from getting work, even though juvenile records are usually sealed. “I had to go back to the courts and have them expunge it.”

He went to the police academy and worked for the Alabama A&M campus police from 1994 to 1997. He also felt called to ministry. In 1997, he was ordained and licensed as a preacher for a church in Huntsville.

He joined the Birmingham Police Department the same year, and has responded to hundreds of violent incidents including homicides.


“It gives you a deeper insight on death because you see it so often,” Neal said. “The death part is final. You see them take their last breath. It gives you a sense of the magnitude and importance of life.”

Neal also serves as a police department chaplain. He has never hesitated to share his faith with fellow officers. “People have come to Christ right in the cruiser with me,” he said.

He also preaches to people he meets on the street.

“I’m trying to offer something other than a ticket and a gun,” Neal said. “I’ve had crack addicts and alcoholics throw their crack pipes away when I pray for them.”

The police department has never expressed any problem with officers sharing faith on the job and the city’s police chief has been one of the foremost evangelists, Neal said.

“I can’t stop that,” he said. “I’m just one who cannot compromise my faith and belief in God. I can’t leave him out of anything.”

Neal first served as a pastor in 2003. That’s when he began frequently alternating between a police cruiser and the pulpit.


“He’s trying to hold up what’s right, and justice,” Woods said. “They can really work hand in hand. He’s responsible for the life of people with both professions.”

There’s no conflict in carrying a badge and a Bible, Neal said.

“You’re trying to keep people from jail, and on the other end you’re trying to keep people from hell,” Neal said. “I’m always preaching about staying right civically, socially and spiritually. I thank God for both jobs.

“It’s enough to keep you praying. I wouldn’t trade it.”

KRE/JL END GARRISON

(Greg Garrison writes for The Birmingham News in Birmingham, Ala.)

Editors: To obtain photos of Neal in his police uniform and in his preaching robe, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.

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