Thank You for a Lifetime of Service

On February 9 th and 10 th the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Field Training Officers held its annual training conference in Bloomington Indiana . One of the speakers for the conference was a man who has dedicated his professional career to preparing young adults for a career in law enforcement. William Randolph "Randy" Davis has a story that mirrors the rise of police training in Indiana .

A native of Anderson , Indiana and a graduate of Anderson High School in 1958, "Randy" Davis started College in the fall of 1958. He left College and joined the United States Marine Corps in November of that same year. He was the Platoon Honor man, Series High Shooter in Firearms Training, and meritoriously promoted to PFC during Basic Training. After meritorious promotions to Lance Corporal and Corporal, he attended NCO School finishing 3rd in his class. After his Honorable Discharge in 1961, he worked at Delco Remy for approximately 5 and one-half years. He joined the Anderson Police Department in May of 1967, where his father was a 17-year veteran, and his older brother, a 2-year veteran. He worked in Uniform Patrol, the Training Division, was a Firearms Instructor and a member of the Pistol Team, the Underwater Search and Recovery Dive Team, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He started teaching, as a guest Instructor, at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy with the 3rd Basic Class (September of 1970), which was on the Indiana University Campus in Bloomington , Indiana . He continued as a guest Instructor until he was hired as one of the first two full-time Staff Instructors, in November of 1972. He attended the Southern Police Institute in the fall of 1973, and later was sent to the FBI National Academy in January of 1974 to attend an Advanced Training Administrators Course.

He was on the Staff when the "NEW" Academy opened in 1975, at Plainfield , Indiana . His duties included those of: Water Safety Instruction, Life Saving and Aquatic Programs, Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instruction, Physical Fitness Training, In-Service Training Courses for Firearms Instructors, Explosive Ordinance and Devices, and Survival Tactics Schools . He was appointed Project Director for the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course during the design of this 1.2 million-dollar facility. He remained on the staff until August of 1980, when he left for a job in Nuclear Security at the Marble Hill Construction Project, south of Madison , Indiana . After that project shutdown in January of 1984, he worked in civilian employment until he joined the IUPUI Police Department in January 1986 and served as their Training Coordinator and Chief Firearms Instructor.

He rejoined the ILEA Staff in April of 1988 and served in the capacity of a Staff Firearms Instructor, Basic Course Drill Instructor, responsible for the Course Practicum Training activity, In-Service Firearms Instructor Courses, in coordination with the FBI and the Indianapolis Department, he developed a Police Observer/Sniper Course that was presented in October of 1989. He was appointed Director of Firearms Training in July of 1997 where he was Project Director during the design & renovation of the Firearms Training Facility, (a 2.43 million dollar renovation) and, later Project Director for the live fire shoot house facility in preparation for the 2001 World Police/Fire Games, where the SWAT and shooting competition was held during the games, (a $570,000.00 project). He served on the first honorary board for the creation of the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Field Training Officers. He has been an expert witness in 9 Use of Force & Firearms related cases in State and Federal Court proceedings. He has been involved in the training of over 20,000 Police Officers during his 33-year career in Law Enforcement.

He retired in July of 2002 from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy , after 23 years of service. For his dedication to law enforcement training and his assistance in the creation of the Indiana Chapter of NAFTO the 2004 Indiana NAFTO board unanimously awarded William Randolph "Randy" Davis the a Lifetime Member status for Indiana NAFTO.

Thank You Randy.