Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Group lauds LR officer for his anti-violence work
Black-on-black violence is a huge problem for Little Rock and one that needs to be actively fought against, Little Rock Police Sgt. Willie Davis told the congregation of the Pilgrim Valley Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday.
It’s for this attitude and the action he’s taken against violence that he was presented with the Man of the Year award from the Little Rock- based Stop the Violence program. He received the Officer of the Year award in 2011.
Davis is the coordinator for the Little Rock Police Department-affiliated Our Kids program, which has been working with at- risk youth since 2008. There are 404 boys enrolled in the program.
Boys enrolled in the program meet on weekends for discussion, in which program leaders encourage critical thinking and talk to the children about things such as decision- making, anger management and how to talk to police.
Davis choked up accepting the award Sunday, saying he was honored and humbled to be recognized for his work to prevent violence.
“There are a lot of men doing the same thing, so there are a lot of ‘Man of the Years’ out there,” he said in an interview. “I accept this award on behalf of them.”
Davis asked Pilgrim Valley to be the first church to host his Before the Casket program, an event the Police Department sponsors that is designed to illustrate the reality that comes from violence. At the events, coroners, police officers and victims’ families speak about homicides.
The Rev. Bennie Johnson said he remembers Davis calling him in tears after a 13-year-old child was killed, and that Davis has turned that passion into action. Johnson said the recipient of the Man of the Year award is given to someone every year who works to help young, black males in the community and provide mentors for them.
Johnson also presented Lt. Glenn King with the Of-
ficer of the Year award for his work with the homicide unit at the Little Rock Police Department.
King said he’s investigated more than 700 homicides in Little Rock, and that more than 90 percent of the victims were black — most of them very young.
“They are African-Americans who never got a chance to get their lives started,” he said. “A lot of them aren’t making it to be 21. A lot of them aren’t making it to 30.”
King urged parents in the congregation to talk to and
King said he’s investigated more than 700 homicides in Little Rock, and that more than 90 percent of the victims were black — most of them
very young.
discipline their children.
“Do something to help your child become an adult,” he said. “Help us. We need help.”