Faith in Action: Roper’s Call to Duty
by Sherri Jackson
CBS 42 News
2007-11-28 17:27:58.0
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This week A.C. Roper will take the helm of the Birmingham Police Department, a title that comes just as the FBI ranks The Magic City's crime among the highest in the nation.
But this veteran of two wars is no stranger to tough environments.
“I'm passionate about it because failure is not an option,” said Roper.
I sat down with Roper for a candid discussion about the man behind the badge. A man whose life so far has played out exactly the way he planned it when he was 17 years old.
"I wrote as a 17 year old graduating senior I wanted to be a police officer, I wanted to have a career in the military, I wanted to marry a sweet woman would understand me. God has blessed me with all three," said Roper.
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He may have scripted it out, but A.C. Roper doesn't take any credit for his 23 years in law enforcement, his 26 years in the army reserves, or his 23 years of marriage to his sweetheart Edith, who along with A.C. is an ordained minister.
"God has really blessed us through the years. He's been faithful," said Roper.
That's why faithfully every Wednesday night you'll find Roper at Bluff Park Community School in Hoover conducting a satellite bible study for a growing group of members from his home church at Faith Chapel in Birmingham.
A city with a bad reputation for crime…a reputation he will have to change if his tenure as chief is to be considered successful by any measure. And a reputation that had the citizens of Birmingham questioning his predecessor Annetta Nunn's methods, which included community revivals to pray the crime away.
"The number one criticism for the outgoing police chief was how she put her faith in action on the job. Do you anticipate any of those darts coming your way," I asked.
“I don't see my faith as being an issue with this job. I believe my faith will help me to be more successful because there are certain things I do certain values I have that I will not compromise," said Roper.
Many of those values are hard work, discipline, the fear of God he got from his grandmother who raised him and made him accountable for his actions in their family. This husband and father of two sees strong family units as necessary in building a strong community, which he says is key in fighting crime.
“What can police do about that? We can't raise every child, but we can support the family," said Roper.
That might very well be this police chief's call to duty for the city.
“Successful cities are made up of successful communities; successful communities are made up of successful families. Family is the building block of the community," said Roper.
For Roper, his foundation is pretty clear.
"God has been a big part of this. He's been a major part of my life. My family’s faith is important to us. My wife and I prayed earnestly that I should even accept this position. We felt as though God was calling us to make this change," said Roper.
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