Black History Today: Retired Perry Police Sergeant Honored for 40 Years of Service

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Sgt. Ray Jackson has served his community for 40 years and has seen it all.

Recently the community honored him for everything he’s done in the city.

You can tell when someone loves their job. The way they take pride in it.

The way they smile just by walking into work.

That love for you do describes Retired Sgt. Arthur ‘Ray’ Jackson to a tee.

After 40 years, the Katleen native is stepping down as the senior officer on duty, a career filled with ebbs and flows.

It all started back in the 1970’s with a recommendation from a friend.

“He was always telling me it was a great place to work. I moved back here from Atlanta, to start working down here since 1973,” Jackson said. 

During the early 70’s in Perry, the idea of racial integration was a farfethced one. Especially for black police officers.

“They didn’t go into white neighborhoods. Most stayed in black neighborhoods. We were more like ‘muscle men’ I would say,” Jackson said. 

Shortly after Jackson began his career, things began to change for the better in Perry.

And during that time, Jackson became a staple in the community.

Quiet, humble, and respected and revered, the 62-year-old remembers the good times and the bad, especially one day in 1989 while working a domestic dispute. 

“My most memorable (moment) is 1989 when I got shot,” Jackson said after a long silence. “She had it cocked ready to shoot because she wanted to shoot him. I was between them, so I was able to knock the gun out of her hand, but in the process I got shot in the pit of my arm and the bullet was taken out of my back,” Jackson said. 

After a full recovery, Jackson says his family and the community have supported his entire career.

And over time, He’s learned one simple message that he continues to teach to new officers.

“Be straight forward, be honest. If you tell a person you’re going to do something, do that. Don’t try to sugar coat anything,” Jackson said. 

A sense of integerity that the community has come to know and love, and to say thank you for the memories.

Sgt. Jackson has plans for his family to spend some time down in Florida. After that, he told me he plans on traveling the world with his wife.