[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8384]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MSGT. JERIS DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 2, 2015

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I stand to honor a public 
servant in the field of law enforcement, MSgt. Jeris Davis. Mr. Davis 
is from Shaw, MS.
  There are many capacities in which one can be a public servant, each 
one requiring certain talent and passion for the position. Environment 
plays a big role in preparing people for their destiny. MSgt. Davis' 
family and home environment was that of a middle class working family. 
His father, Warren Davis, worked at Dixie Tobacco and Candy Company in 
Shaw for over 40 years. His mother, Ruth Davis had two jobs: she was 
employed with the Shaw Sewing Factory and Lewis Grocery Warehouse in 
Indianola for over 30 years.
  MSgt. Davis had influence all around him: His grandmother, Mattie 
Davis; aunts: Judy Freeman and Mildred Johnson; and several of his 
uncles, all were important role models. Warren Davis, his father, and 
his uncle, Frank Freeman, were members of the Shaw Volunteer Fire 
Department. At the age of 12, while still in elementary school, they 
would take him to the fire department with them on weekends, which was 
his reward for good grades and good behavior. Those visits to the fire 
department, watching his dad and uncle, and community men work around 
the fire, created a desire in him to do the same.
  MSgt. Davis continued this for years, volunteering to clean the 
equipment, listening to the firemen talk, learning how to operate the 
equipment, and developing the skills of a fireman. In fact, many people 
actually thought he was a fireman for the city, because he would be at 
all the fires (e.g., spraying water, pulling down equipment, always 
asking the firemen to let him go into the fire and rescue someone). 
Those opportunities fueled his desire, even more, to help and serve the 
public, especially in Shaw.
  MSgt. Davis graduated from Shaw High School and went on to join many 
organizations and clubs that focused on some role of public service. 
Through this he was able to develop more skills and leadership ability, 
all the time preparing him for a career in public service.
  MSgt. Davis held down two jobs, and eventually, became a member of 
the Shaw Volunteer Fire Department and a dispatcher for the Shaw Police 
Department. From there in 1992 he became an equipment operator for the 
Mississippi State Highway Department, while continuing his role as a 
member of the fire department. The year 1998 was the beginning of MSgt. 
Davis' career as a professional in law enforcement. His resume of 
experience and accomplishments include:
  1998 Year: Completion of the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training 
Academy, 1998 Year: Police Officer, City of Shaw Police Department, 
1992 Year: Highway Officer for the Mississippi Department of 
Transportation (MDOT), 2000 Year: MDOT Honor Guard Officer representing 
Fallen Law Enforcement Officers in Washington, DC, 2001 Year: 
Completion of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Training Academy, 
2003 Year: Completion of the Mississippi Highway Patrol Cadet School, 
2009 Year: US Marshal Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Taskforce, Oxford, 
MS, created by Congress, and 2013 Year: Completion of the Mississippi 
Certified Investigators Program, Pearl, MS.
  MSgt. Davis has recently been promoted to Master Sergeant within the 
Mississippi Highway Patrol. In this capacity he is assigned to the 
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation as an investigator. MSgt. Davis is 
often assigned to special assignments because of the various trainings 
and acquired knowledge of expertise. Some of those assignments are: 
narcotic investigations, high level fugitive investigations and 
searches, and special homicide cases.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring MSgt. Jeris 
Davis for his dedication and service as a public servant in the field 
of law enforcement. I am proud to have him as a resident of the 
Mississippi Second Congressional District.

                          ____________________