Fighting crime and frying chicken may seem as though they are incompatible career paths, yet both were childhood dreams that Tommie Reese has found a way to live out. The first being his dream to serve as a law enforcement officer, the second to run his own restaurant.
As a young child riding through his hometown of Demopolis, Alabama, Tommie Reese noticed a police officer lounging in his patrol car off the side of the road. His demeanor was relaxed, yet alert. Reese was struck that the officer’s mere presence, though approachable, still held enough strength and authority to deter crime. In that moment, Reese realized he too, wanted to protect his community.
A quieter dream of Reese’s was to one day run his own restaurant and bring a different, “soulful yet sophisticated” eating experience to the citizens of his hometown. This dream was one that was nurtured by his mother, who taught him to cook.
His career in law enforcement was the first goal Reese actively pursued and succeeded in garnering a decades-long run as an officer and eventually retiring as chief. In addition, he is proud to hold two degrees from Faulkner University’s criminal justice program.
He first began his law enforcement career with the Alabama Department of Public Safety in 1985. He later joined the Demopolis Police Department as a Patrolman in 1987. In 1991, he joined the Marengo County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff and was later appointed to Chief Deputy Sheriff in 1994, where he served until he was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Demopolis on February 5, 2009. In December 2017, he was appointed as the Public Safety Director expanding his oversight to include both the Demopolis police and fire departments. In December 2018, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall appointed Chief Reese as the State Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. He currently works for Walden Security, Federal Service Division to work alongside the United States Marshal’s Service as the District Supervisor for the Northern District of Alabama.
Throughout his career, Reese has dedicated his life to serving those he swore to protect. His efforts have brought justice to countless victims, blessed the lives of survivors, and made a difference in many lives. Their stories have in turn blessed his life and are ones he will not soon forget.
“During my career, I have had the heart to serve people,” Reese said. “Once you put that badge on your chest, you put on a different lifestyle of service. I have worked on some very violent cases. Lives have been lost, and I can bring closure to the victims of those crimes. One young man was eight years old when I worked the case in which his grandmother and a three-year-old were murdered. We closed the case within weeks. That same young man who survived the ordeal, grew up and I hired him to be one of my police officers.”
“In my line of work, I think about those lives that I touch, but I realize they touch my life just as much. A card, a final act, a hug, a simple handshake. There is so much meaning behind them. So much loss, yet so much gratitude. Those are memories that will stay with me for a lifetime,” Reese said.
While his dream to own a restaurant was temporarily taking a back seat to Reese’s meaningful and successful law enforcement career, he was presented with a new goal: to continue his education and earn a master’s degree in justice administration.
“While it had been in the back of my mind to get my degree, it wasn’t until I met Alison Cahoon with Faulkner University that I was encouraged by her to make it a reality,” Reese said. “We met at a networking event in Birmingham where it became known that we were both from Demopolis and we quickly became good friends. It was intimidating to go back to school in my 50s, but Alison was so encouraging and helped me through the process that I was soon on my way to completing my degree.”
He temporarily put his education on hold as he took time to take care of his father, who was sick and later passed away from cancer in 2017. His goal to complete his degree took on a new meaning as Reese returned to Faulkner’s program to honor his parents. He graduated with a bachelor’s in criminal justice and then completed his Master of Justice Administration 1-year degree from Faulkner. Since then, he’s earned a graduate certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia and graduated from the distinguished FBI National Academy Session 210th Quantico, VA., and SLEDS. He has been recognized as a Certified Chief of Police by the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police and as a Certified Law Enforcement Executive by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission.
“My parents never got their got their degrees, so by completing my degrees, I wanted to show my kids that they can do the same,” Reese explained. “Now my son has his degree as well.”
Although it took discipline to finish his first two degrees from Faulkner while raising a family and working full time, Faulkner’s kind professors and flexible scheduling made it an enjoyable experience, he said. As a man of faith, Reese appreciated that Faulkner is a Christian school where his professors cared about his wellbeing as well as his educational goals.
This was especially true when on duty in his patrol car, Reese was slammed into from behind by another driver going 60 mph in a construction zone. His vehicle was totaled, but Reese was able to make a full recovery. During his convalescence, his professors worked around his schedule, put his classes on pause and sent texts, emails, and calls to check on his progress.
“Faulkner being a Christian school that it is, you have good people who look out for their students,” Reese said. “They were concerned about my wellbeing and my education. I was more than a number. I genuinely mattered to them.”
After achieving his goal of earning his degrees, Reese retired as chief after a 38-year career in law enforcement. It was finally time to open his restaurant.
He is now the proud owner of River City Soul restaurant in Demopolis, and he has already enjoyed a year of robust business.
“The concept for my restaurant was born out of an idea I had when I was a young teen, but has some added elements,” Reese said. “I have a place where I love their ribs and barbeque, but I have also tried different restaurants while traveling with my career in law enforcement. River City Soul is a blend of both those experiences. During the day we are a meat-and-three, soul-food restaurant with all the classic favorites, but at night the atmosphere changes to a more formal, dining experience with tablecloths, steak and salmon and grilled shrimp. I wanted to transport the people to a place outside Demopolis through food and a different setting.”