Family, colleagues, and close friends honored the humanitarian efforts and life of the late Major Ernest E. Green III with an unveiling ceremony yesterday afternoon. Green was a 20-plus year veteran with the University City Police Department and served in several high-ranking leadership roles within NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives). The ceremony was held in a small conference room at the U.S. Probation Office-Eastern District of Missouri on the 2nd floor of the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in downtown St. Louis.
“Ernest was about helping to make things better in any way he could,” said Alicia Green, Ernest’s widow.
Ernest was described by those closest to him as a compassionate “public servant” who believed in giving “second chances” with a goal to reduce recidivism among ex-offenders. In 2007 through NOBLE St. Louis, Ernest began donating bus passes to the U.S. Probation Office. The bus pass donation is now an annual event and to date, NOBLE St. Louis has donated approximately $10,000 in bus passes to the U.S. Probation Office-Eastern District of Missouri.
The framed photo of Ernest, a summary of his background, and a mock donation check for $1,500 will be permanently displayed in the lobby of U.S. Probation Office- Eastern District Missouri as positive reinforcement for ex-offenders.
“We want them to read Ernest’s story and understand that the police are not always there to arrest you and put you in jail,” said Chief U.S. Probation Officer Douglas Burris, “that they really do care about you. They want you to succeed.”
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