Goldsboro law enforcement officer earns title of Woman of the Year
By John Joyce
Published in News on September 28, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Cpl. Marissa Davis, center, poses for a photo with a group of "new friends" at Small World Child Care Center and Preschool Thursday on one of her visits. Several times a year Davis visits the center to inform children about law enforcement and often eases their anxiety about a person in uniform. Her work with children in the community was a big reason she was named North Carolina Law Enforcement Women's Association Woman of the Year.
For the second time in seven years, Cpl. Marissa Davis of the Goldsboro Police Department has been named the N.C. Law Enforcement Women's Association's Woman of the Year.
The 23-year veteran law enforcement officer received the 2015 award at this year's honors at the NCLEWA conference in Edneyville earlier this month.
"What (the association) does is give women in law enforcement the opportunity to come together," Ms. Davis said.
She said the conference provides an opportunity to conduct training as well as a chance to get together and discuss the things women go through in law enforcement.
"In addition to training it is kind of a support group," Ms. Davis said.
A member since 1995, Ms. Davis has held several elected offices within the association, including assistant treasurer, the sergeant-at-arms and, presently, chaplain.
But when she attended her first NCLEWA conference 20 years ago, she remembers being awestruck by the number of women she saw in prominent positions within their respective police departments.
"I remember my first year attending in 1995 -- it was held in Greenville -- and that was the first time that I saw black women that looked like and they were in high positions like majors, captains," she said. "And I had never seen that before because we didn't have any women in our department ranking, until now. We do now," she added.
Seeing that women could not only serve their communities, but were also able to excel and climb the ranks within law enforcement cemented Ms. Davis' decision to make "the job" her career.
"It was just a great feeling to know that women could be police officers and be successful," she said.
During her time in the association and on the police force, Ms. Davis has seen and learned a lot. Much of what the association does for female officers is offer training and support for women as professionals, not just in the field but within the department, she said. She was reminded of that at this year's conference.
"It was amazing to see some of the ladies and their professionalism. That's what the organization does is teach you how to be professional at your job," she said.
Being honored by her peers meant a lot to her back in 1998, but winning a second time makes it all the more special because this year the criteria for winning the award changed.
"I am thankful that I was able to receive the award in 2008. But this year they changed it a little bit," she said. "Had it not been for the work I've done in our community, I am sure my name would not have gone up to the top," Ms. Davis said.
In prior years, the process including submitting your name as having been a part of the association. And as long as you had been a member in good standing, paying your membership dues you could qualify for woman of the year, she said.
This year, the criteria shifted to include requirements such as a letter from your department head, letters of reference and the activities in the community in which the officer is engaged.
In addition to being assigned to the Crime Prevention Division at Goldsboro Police Department, through which she helps facilitate the Neighborhood Crime Watch programs throughout the city, Ms. Davis helps orchestrate the annual community event National Night Out each year. She also volunteers at a local day care and she works closely with Project Safe Kids through the Partnership for Children of Wayne County.
If not for all she does, Ms. Davis might have run for president of the association by now.
"I have had opportunities to be president, but is too much for my duties here to do that," she said.
Additionally, she said the current climate in the nation and the negativity surrounding how law enforcement officers are viewed does have an impact on female officers as it does all who wear the badge, but to no greater degree than it does the men.
"I'm sure it is affecting them because we're out there doing the job and now you are seeing women moreso on the front lines of making these big decisions in the departments. I think we're balancing. You try to balance home and work, just like everybody else. It is tough, it gets tough," she said.
But she and the women of law enforcement with whom she serves remain undeterred.
"We try to just keep one another uplifted as we serve our communities."