Video: Nettleton Policeman Who Stopped Shooting Spree Is Honored

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AMORY, Miss., (WCBI) — In less than a year, three law enforcement officers in our area have been killed in the line of duty. Earlier this year, a Nettleton police officer was forced to take action against a suspect who had shot and killed two people.

It was lunchtime on April 16th when Officer Robert Davis Junior came upon what he initially thought was a traffic accident on Nettleton’s Main Street.

Davis was first on the scene of a deadly shooting that began inside a car. Two people in the car were shot. As Davis approached the car, the shooter, 49 year old Ottis Bass, came up behind the veteran officer and started firing.

Davis took cover near his police car, and returned fire, striking and killing Bass, and ending the carnage.

“I don’t feel , number one, like any type of hero,” Davis said.

Officer Davis, who joined the Nettleton Police Department last November, says he was just doing his job.

But the retired Army veteran, who served during the Vietnam era, was honored during the regular meeting of the Monroe County Law Enforcement Officer Association.

“This award says, Hometown Hero awarded to Robert Davis, Nettleton Police Department,” announced Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell, as he presented the award to Officer Davis.

The “Hometown Hero” award cites Davis for his actions, which kept countless others out of harms way.

“No officer gets up in the morning, thinking he’s going to encounter such , those type of activities, but hopefully, when it does happen, we are prepared to engage it and handle it to the best of our abilities,” Davis said.

Officer Davis says he prays daily for the ability to perform his duties. He also says the training he received in the military and during his law enforcement career played a valuable role in the events of April 16th. He says continued training is needed.

“We need to put more money into law enforcement to get our officers properly trained , we need training, training means everything, classes like active shooter that prepares you for situations like that,” he said.

Although Officer Davis is back on regular patrol duty he encourages people to support their local law enforcement, men and women who sacrifice so much on a daily basis.

Officer Davis has also worked as a policeman in Shannon, he was chief in Plantersville and he also worked with Tupelo Public Schools.