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Thou shalt not park -- unless on chapel business

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Woodruff
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLA. --  What if you called the suicide hotline and were put on hold?

Or dialed 9-1-1 and got a busy signal?

How about needing to visit with a chaplain and not being able to find a parking space?

It might sound like a drastic comparison, but not to those in crisis who have had to leave the chapel and come back later when a parking spot was available.

During events on the west side of base, such as commander's call at the Tinker Auditorium, people fill up the chapel's parking lot, including the 14 spaces left for the chapel staff and customers.

"Initially it was just aggravating and an inconvenience to volunteers, customers and staff who have to park a little further away," said 72nd Air Base Wing Chaplain (Maj.) Sam Tucker.

But not anymore. Chaplain Tucker said there have been times when people in real distress want to visit with a chaplain, but can't find a place to park.

"What if a person experiencing a crisis saw that as a sign that there was no hope?," he asked. "They're already in their car, and that can be a weapon of destruction."

To try to alleviate the problem, the chapel staff added no parking signs. That's not working, either.

"People are ignoring the 'no parking' signs we had installed," Chaplain Tucker said. "We've been ticketing people for months, because it's important -- we provide crisis intervention, so this has to be a place of help and hope."

Chaplain Tucker said he has been surprised by the level of anger some people are having over the parking issue. He said he makes no apologies and asks that everyone consider the extraordinary possibilities that can be seen at the price of a minor inconvenience -- someone's life could be saved.