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Letter to the editor

Officers will get keys to city they helped pry open

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 12, 2007

Twelve police officers will officially be honored Thursday with keys to the city and a proclamation.

The "Courageous Twelve" are the police officers who in 1965 successfully challenged the Police Department's existing policies and integrated the city's police force.

Seven of the original 12 officers are expected to attend, including Horace Nero, who continues to work for the St. Petersburg Police Department as a civilian investigator in Youth Resources.

Others attending are Adam Baker, Freddie L. Crawford, Leon Jackson, Robert V. Keys, Primus Killen and James King.

The remaining five officers are deceased and will be represented by their wives or children. They are Raymond L. DeLoach, Charles Holland, Johnnie B. Lewis, Jerry Styles and Nathaniel L. Wooten.

Before 1965, African-American police officers were restricted to patrol only black neighborhoods and to arrest only African-Americans.

After failed attempts to change the department's "separate but equal" policy, the group of officers enlisted the legal support of James B. Sanderlin, who filed a lawsuit.

In 1968, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the officers, and the separate but equal policy was dismantled.

Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis, who joined the department in 1974, has a first-hand understanding of the profound change that was made.

"Because of the courage and vigilance of these urban Buffalo Soldiers, I was given the opportunity to rise through the ranks and become St. Petersburg's first African-American police chief," he said.

If you go

Honored for courage

The "Courageous Twelve" will be honored at 3 p.m. Thursday at the City Council meeting.

[Last modified September 11, 2007, 22:49:33]