One Page Bio | Video Introduction

Who is Angel?

Angel A. D. Tucker was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He grew up in an impoverished neighborhood flooded with drugs, gangs, and violence. Within this community, Angel experienced an incredible amount of harassment and endured daily pressure to join one of the local gangs. Rather than falling victim to this pressure, Angel persevered, becoming a notable servant of his community for more than 30 years. As a young and ambitious leader in his neighborhood block watch, Angel helped organize neighborhood revitalization initiatives. He has since been dedicated to mentoring youth from similar communities. In 2011, Angel made local history by becoming the first African-American police officer to join the Oregon Police Department (OPD) in Oregon, Ohio, where he currently serves as patrolman. During his career with OPD, Angel has led the initiative for external carrier vests and is currently working on an initiative with the OPD, city officials, and Bowling Green State University to recruit a more diverse slate of candidates for first responders across the county. Angel has served on the SWAT team, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), Crisis Negotiator Unit (CNU), Drug Abuse Response Team (DART) Honor Guard, Bike Patrol Unit, and is currently a presenter for the Citizens Police Academy. In addition, Angel is highly regarded as a leader and advocate in the field of mental health. His mission to bring awareness to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and continued traumatic stress disorder (CTSD) has been acknowledged and integrated into his Tactical Communication work. These efforts have been recognized locally by the mental health board and other organizations, earning him the 2020 Officer of the Year award for Lucas County. 

Angel’s credentials and certificates 

  • OPOTA Certified Blue Courage Instructor
  • OPOTA Certified in Instructional Skills
  • Certified Tactical Communication Instructor
  • Certified Bridges Out of Poverty Instructor
  • Crisis Intervention Certification
  • 2012 Merit Commendation
  • 2013 Merit Commendation
  • 2014 Officer of the Year Nominee
  • 2015 Merit Commendations (2)
  • 2020 Rising Phoenix Award
  • 2020 Mental Health Board Officer of the Year
  • Active Shooter Certification
  • Operational Planning Certification
  • Human Trafficking Certification
  • Street Survival Certification
  • Youth Conference Keynote Speaker
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Progress at the University of Toledo

Angel’s aha! moment

My wife invited me to attend a Bridges Out of Poverty training where I had a double aha! moment. The first moment was hearing the trainer articulate the hidden rules of poverty that I grew up in, which was profound. I was absolutely amazed. This particular training added legitimacy to concepts and ideas I’ve shared on many occasions in the past. Consequently, due to a lack of published information, I was often ignored. My second aha! moment was learning about the hidden rules of middle class. Being from poverty and working for a middle-class police department was a culture shock, and once I had my aha! moment, it all clicked.

Angel’s passion

I am a very tribal person, and I live to protect, nurture, share, and provide for those I love and care about. I have found that during the expansion of my career, my education, my family, and my mind, I’ve also expanded my tribe to include people who are looking for a better way. This extends to teachers who are looking for a better way of communication, parents who are looking for a better method of understanding, and those communities that pray for better leadership. Our soldiers, firefighters, and/or police officers who are actively seeking better ways to serve and protect and students who seek better ways of learning are welcomed into my life’s mission. The betterment of the tribe, which has grown immensely, is my passion!

Angel’s best training

My best training is everyday life. But the best training I present is Tactical Communication.

What does Angel do for fun?

I love spending time with my beautiful wife, Kathy. I enjoy spending with our (crazy) kids—Amir, Karmen, and Karmelo. I enjoy seeing my two oldest children—Diamonte, and Dakota—make their mark in this world. I indulge in coffee and conversation with my mother. I love to cook, enjoy working out, and like projects around the home. I escape the wonders of this world by riding my motorcycle and doing volunteer work with my wife and motorcycle club (Buffalo Soldiers) members.

What people are saying about Angel

“As an academy instructor, the most important skill we can teach cadets in a new career of law enforcement is communication. The Tactical Communication for First Responders course should be mandatory in all law enforcement academies. The skills learned in the program are invaluable when it comes to learning the socioeconomic differences of the communities that we serve and help us better understand and communicate with the citizens that we come into contact with on a daily basis.”

–Sgt. Daniel G. Gutierrez, Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, Corrections Center