Paul Tucker (politician)

Paul F. Tucker is an American politician, lawyer and law enforcement officer currently serving as the District Attorney of Essex County, Massachusetts since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Tucker served as the State Representative for Massachusetts House of Representatives' 7th Essex district from 2014 to 2022.

Tucker formerly served as Chief of the Salem Police Department before being elected to public office.

Early life, education, and career
Tucker graduated from Salem High School in 1976, where he played basketball. Tucker went on to graduate from Salem State University with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Tucker worked as a campus police officer until later joining the Nashua, New Hampshire Police Department. In 1983, Tucker joined the Salem Police Department as a patrol officer.

While working at the Salem Police Department, Tucker earned a master's degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College in 1992. Tucker held multiple positions in the Salem Police Department, including detective, chief of detectives, and Chief of Police. Tucker also attended the FBI National Academy, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and directed the North Shore Drug Task Force.

Tucker attended night classes at the Massachusetts School of Law, earning a juris doctor in 2000. Tucker has since taught Criminal Justice courses at Endicott College and Salem State University.

In 2014, Tucker resigned as Chief of the Salem Police Department, and was elected as the State Representative for the Massachusetts House of Representatives' 7th Essex district, covering the city of Salem. In 2022, Tucker was elected as the District Attorney of Essex County, and has held this office since January 2, 2023.

Massachusetts House of Representatives
Tucker was first elected to serve as the State Representative for Massachusetts House of Representatives' 7th Essex district, which encompasses the city of Salem, Massachusetts, on November 4, 2014, as a member of the Democratic Party. Tucker defeated Libertarian party candidate Daniel Morris with 84% of the vote in the general election. Tucker was then re-elected essentially unopposed in both primary and general elections in 2016, 2018, and 2020.

While a State Representative, Tucker served as Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy. Tucker also sat on numerous committees, including the Joint Committee on Education, on the Judiciary, on Public Safety and Homeland Security, on Ways and Means, on Education, on Transportation, on Municipalities and Regional Government, and on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery.