'Unwavering dedication': GSCC police officer also pastors church, sees link in the roles

Sgt. David Bankson of the Gadsden State Community College Police and Public Safety Department is all about the two P’s — policing and preaching — and sees a link between the two.

“I support and serve my community as both a minister and a police officer,” he said. “As a minister, I provide spiritual guidance, counseling and support while as a police officer I provide safety and security. In both roles, I’m providing care to my community.”

Bankson said people in church aren’t perfect, adding, “They have problems, and I help them deal with those problems.

“I do the same thing at Gadsden State," he said. "I’m a public servant in the church, and I’m a public servant in law enforcement. It’s all tied together.”

Bankson spent 18 years in law enforcement before coming to Gadsden State. He also has been in the ministry for 25 years, serving the last five years as pastor of Cove Creek Baptist Church in Glencoe.

He was hired at Gadsden State in September 2023 as one of the first law enforcement officers in the college’s new police department. GSCC had announced in March that it was creating a new police department to serve all five of its campuses. Jay Freeman became the chief in August.

“I served as a school resource officer in Hokes Bluff, so I knew I liked serving in the educational environment,” Bankson said. “There’s a lot of interaction with students, staff and administration. A college campus is a great place to create relationships. It’s not for everyone, but I like it. I think Gadsden State is a great place for me to wrap up my career.”

In May, Bankson was named Gadsden State’s Police Officer of the Year by the Alabama Law Enforcement Appreciation Foundation. He was honored along with other area police officers at a luncheon held in Oxford during National Police Week.

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“When I heard my name, I didn’t believe it,” he said. “I thought it was a set-up.”

Freeman said Bankson deserves recognition for being an outstanding officer.

“Sgt. Bankson has an unwavering dedication to Gadsden State and to the communities we serve,” he said. “His exceptional professionalism and his commitment to upholding the highest standards of law enforcement exemplify what it means to be an outstanding officer.”

Bankson, who also is serving his first term on the Hokes Bluff City Council, said his job as a pastor helps him in his job as a police officer, and vice versa.

“Being in the ministry helps me with de-escalation matters,” he said. “Working in a secular environment helps me with those in the church. I don’t forget that people have problems. Everyone has problems. I can relate to people in both worlds. I feel like I understand people from all walks of life.”

Bankson received a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry and Christians studies in 1999 from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to his wife, Charlotte, for 38 years, and they have two daughters and two grandchildren.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 'Unwavering dedication': GSCC police officer also pastors church, sees link in the roles