GASTONIA, N.C. — A Gastonia man is praising the police department for how officers responded to his home when his father was having a violent medical episode.
“I can’t thank you guys enough,” Otis Davis III said.
Officers deescalated the situation without anyone getting hurt.
Davis met with officers at the Gaston County Police Department to thank them.
“You don’t always hear about the positive from the police department,” Davis said.
The meeting happened during a time when there is not a lot of positive news surrounding law enforcement.
“As an African American Black man, I wanted to come and thank all of you guys,” Davis said.
Davis said his father, Otis Davis Jr., was face-to-face with police officers on June 9.
Officers responded to Davis Jr.’s home when he was having a medical episode.
Davis said his father’s behavior was violent, radical and unusual.
“We kind of communicated his health issues and they backed up and my father, he wasn’t in pain,” Davis said. “He wasn’t hurt.”
“If we can put ourselves in a position to deescalate that and take control the situation, that’s our first goal,” said Chief Joseph Ramey.
Ramey said the responding officers used their training to stay poised.
Officers put Davis’ father in custody without using force. He was later taken to the hospital.
“Very proud,” Ramey said. “Always proud of the work that they do day in and day out. Especially proud the Davis family has come over (to) thank them in person.”
Davis said he is full of gratitude and his father is expected to return home from the hospital in time for Father’s Day.
“I only have one father. He’s 81 and I’m grateful to God that he’s still here,” Davis said.
Ramey said his officers communicated with each other that Davis Jr. was acting strangely. The Davises told officers about his health issues immediately.
©2022 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
