Chaplain Danny Ricker started with the Greeneville Police Department in 2016. He entered the ministry in 1995. During his career in the ministry, he has been a pastor and an evangelist and spread the gospel through song by being a member of several gospel bands. Danny attended the Ministry International Institute. He started on the path of being a chaplain in 2008 when he joined the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Chaplain’s Corps. Danny also serves as the chaplain for the Greeneville Fire Department, Greeneville Greene County 911, EMS, and the Greene County Volunteer Fire Association. Danny says he loves building relationships with the officers and citizens he serves. He finds it fulfilling to provide for them both mentally and spiritually. Danny is currently the Opportunity House Homeless Shelter Director here in Greeneville. We feel blessed to have Chaplain Ricker lead our Chaplin's Corps.
Chaplains
The Greeneville Police Department uses the services of its volunteer staff of chaplains to provide emotional and spiritual support to our employees and the community we serve. The chaplains stop by the department regularly to see our officers and staff to say hello. From time to time, they will do ride-a-longs with our officers, building relationships and bonds of support our officers have come to count on in times of stress. Chaplain Ricker has a portable kitchen, and he will set it up in our parking lot several times a year to provide fellowship over a meal with our officers. The chaplains make themselves available 24/7 to our department in times of need. They respond to critical incidents to support our staff and our community in their time of need. They are available to accompany our officers on the call that no officer wants to be assigned, which are death notifications. Our chaplains are an invaluable resource to our department.
Rev. David Green is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Greeneville. Rev. Green is married to Tracy Green, and they have two children. They are also brand new grandparents as of 2022, even though Rev. Green looks way too young for that to be true. We feel blessed to have Rev. Green as a member of our Chaplin's Corps. (More to come on Rev. Green's BIO)
Pastor Stephen Aiken began working with the Greeneville Police Department as a part of our Chaplain Corps in 2020. Pastor Aiken was born and raised in Greeneville. He graduated from Greeneville High School in 1993. After graduation, he answered his call to the ministry by attending Mid-America Christian University. Stephen graduated from Mid-America University in 2004 and began teaching the word of GOD through his passion for ministry. In 2016 Stephen became the Senior Pastor at Campground Church of God here in Greene County. Pastor Aiken is married and has two children. We feel blessed to have Pastor Aiken as a member of our Chaplin's Corps.
Pastor H. Gerald Rudd was born in Dayton, Ohio, on September 17, 1951, and married Ruth J. McCorkle on March 6, 1971. They have three children, Robert, Debra, and James, and five granddaughters, Bailey, Breann, Jordyn, Camym, and Alexis, and one grandson Landon.
Pastor Rudd went into the U.S. Army at the age of seventeen and served a 3-year enlistment. During that time, he served a tour in Vietnam. After moving back to Dayton, Ohio, and attending church with his wife, Ruth, he was saved at the age of 21. At the age of 23, God called him into the ministry. He was a youth pastor for 2 1/2 years at Ashcraft Road Church of God and their Associate Pastor for six months. In July of 1980, he went to Pekin, IL, where he served as the Senior Pastor for 21 years at the Pekin First Church of God. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Mid-America Bible College in 1994 and a Master's Degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary in September 2001. In May 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Mid America Christian University.
In July 2001, Greeneville First Church of God called him to be their Senior Pastor. On September 11, 2001, he and his wife Ruth moved to Greeneville, where they served until March 1, 2015. During that time, Pastor Rudd served as a volunteer Chaplain with the Greeneville Police Department. They currently live in Greeneville, Tn, and serve the church as Evangelists. We feel blessed to have Pastor Rudd as a member of our Chaplin's Corps.