Daviess County deputies spend a significant amount of their available time out of their patrol cars. Sometimes Deputy Larry Adams can be seen running down the middle of the street, other times he’s diving into a frozen lake.
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Those annual events for Special Olympics — the Torch Run in the summer and the Polar Plunge in the winter — are just two activities that give Deputy Adams the opportunity to positively engage with different organizations in Gallatin, serve as a mentor to young people, and interact with the community.
Deputy Adams says he personally knows some of the athletes in Special Olympics and that being able to financially aid them to compete during their state sport event is a humbling experience.
“I feel led to do it,” he says. “The community gives a lot to help law enforcement do our job. It’s my opportunity to pay the community back.”
Larry Adams has been a deputy at the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department since 2009. He grew up south of Jamesport and graduated from high school at Tri-County in 1997. He received his certification from the St. Joseph Police Academy in 2001.
Law enforcement is often involved with families in bad situations. Deputy Adams appreciates the opportunity to work with youth in ways that influence their attitudes toward officers in a positive way.
“The more and earlier we can get involved with kids, the more it benefits the community down the road,” he says.
He volunteers as a Sunday School teacher at his church and with Bright Futures at Searcy Elementary.
“It’s always the smaller things,” he says. “When I volunteer with Bright Futures Lunch Buddy, it’s only thirty minutes. That’s not much to us, but to a kid that attention means a lot. When they wait for you to show up so they can tell you what’s going on that week; their smile makes it worth every minute.”
He says he’s happy to help any time he can make a difference to the people around him.
“Any chance I get to help somebody out I’m willing to do it,” he says.
Deputy Adams says he doesn’t volunteer for the pats on the back, but rather for the personal sense of gratitude.
“Knowing that I may have helped somebody out that really needed it,” he says. “Once you do it and see the good, positive impact, then you want to do more of it.”
While patrolling the town and enforcing laws is their sworn duty, Gallatin Police Department officers spend a lot of time engaging with members of the community in non-enforcement activities.
You might find Gallatin Police Chief Mark Richards helping to direct traffic at the Easter egg hunt at the Daviess County Nursing and Rehab or directing traffic at Chautauqua.
“Any place we’re needed,” Chief Richards says. “When somebody asks the department for help, we try to do it. It never hurts to ask. Sometimes we can and sometimes we can’t.”
The Marine Toys for Tots program, which collects and distributes new unwrapped toys to less fortunate children at Christmas, is one of his more rewarding experiences.
“A lot of times a police officer arrives at the worst time for a family,” he says. “Through Toys for Tots we help families who are down on their luck, through no fault of their own. When we’re able to be there for a positive experience like that, we enjoy it more than anything.”
Dialogues with young people that help build trust on both sides include the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), which educates students in school about the danger of using illegal drugs; and EZ Child ID system, a comprehensive digital fingerprinting child identification system.
Then there are the events that are a lot less serious, like Halloween, when officers pass out glow sticks and treats.
“Little kids come up to us and remember that we’re the ones that gave them the big candy bars. Hopefully, that positive contact will stay with them through the teen years.”
During his off hours, Chief Richards has spent a lot of time with the local scouting program. Over several years he’s served as everything from den leader and committee member to assistant scout master.
“One of the benefits of living in a small community is we get to participate in things you might not be able to in a big city,” he says.
He adds that the community has a strong base of people and businesses who want to help others.
“A lot of our programs are sponsored by the community. We’re just the facilitators.”
The Police Department will miss the Shopko store which was a big help at the senior center and school through the Shopko Foundation.
“Shopko’s closing will put stress on some of the programs available,” he says. “But people will step up and help out their neighbors.”
Chief Richards gets a return living side by side with the people he polices.
Deputy Larry Adams is pictured at the Searcy Elementary Bright Futures Lunch Buddy Program. He is with Scott Earnst, who also volunteers a whole lot of his time to every event that benefits children.
Cheif Richards interacts with students at county library.
“I’m a member of the community like everyone else,” he says. “I’ve been here for 20 years now. If I can help make things a little better, then I get a strong, positive community in return. I didn’t join the police force for money or fame. I got into it to help other people out and try to make our community better.”