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District Attorney Paul F. Tucker
Paul F. Tucker is a lifelong resident of Essex County and has spent his entire career devoted to law enforcement.
A basketball player in the Salem High Class of 1976, Tucker graduated from Salem State College. He began his career as a campus police officer before joining the Nashua, N.H., Police Department.
He soon returned home and joined the Salem Police Department in 1983 as a patrol officer. Over the course of his career, he earned a masters degree from Anna Maria College. He also rose to detective, chief of detectives and, ultimately, chief of police in 2009.
In that position, he managed a staff of over 100 and a budget exceeding $10 million.
Along the way, Tucker attended the FBI National Academy, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and directed the North Shore Drug Task Force.
He also spent nights attending the Massachusetts School of Law, from which he received his juris doctor. In addition, he spent over 20 years teaching criminal justice at Endicott College and Salem State.
In 2014, Tucker stepped down as chief and was elected to represent Salem in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and focused his legislative attention on criminal justice issues.
In 2022, he was elected Essex County District Attorney, leading a staff of nearly 200 to protect and serve the residents of 34 cities and towns extending from Lynn to Gloucester, Lawrence and Newburyport.
He and his wife, Ann, have three children, six grandchildren - and four dogs.