Probation Office commemorates the late Major Ernest E. Green III

Family, colleagues and close friends honored the humanitarian efforts and life of the late Major Ernest E. Green III with an unveiling ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse.

Green was a 20-plus-year veteran of the University City Police Department and served in several high-ranking leadership roles within NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives).

Ernest died in December 2010 at age 46 from a brain tumor. He 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.

“Ernest was about helping to make things better in any way he could,” said Alicia F. Green, Ernest’s widow.

The ceremony was held in a small conference room at the U.S. Probation Office – Eastern District of Missouri within the courthouse.

Alicia sat next to her two young sons, Ernest E. Green IV and Ellis Green, a few feet away from an easel shrouded in black cloth. They were joined by Chief U.S. Probation Officer Douglas Burris and U.S. Probation Officer Demetrius Hatley among other guests.

Ernest and Hatley had worked to improve transportation resources for ex-offenders just released from prison and still under federal supervision. Hatley said ex-offenders were having a difficult time getting to and from job interviews and places where other services were being rendered. In 2007 through NOBLE St. Louis, Ernest began donating bus passes to the U.S. Probation Office.

The “Ernest E. Green III Reentry Initiative,” as it’s now known, has become one of NOBLE St. Louis’ benchmark community efforts toward reducing recidivism. The bus pass donation is now an annual event. To date, NOBLE St. Louis has donated approximately $10,000 in bus passes to the U.S. Probation Office-Eastern District of Missouri.

Burris feels confident that the bus pass donation helped to reduce crime in the area “because it got people help and employed.”

“Since they started that, the unemployment rate of our caseload has been under 10 percent,” Burris said of the bus pass donation.

Burris, Hatley and Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer Scott Anders said it was time to recognize their “good friend.” Burris said the idea developed during a time when the department was feeling the strain of federal budget cuts.

“The budget cuts just made us realize how important it was that we received the donation from NOBLE,” Burris said. “It makes you reflect more about people that reach out to help because it’s the right thing to do.”

Jiles Ship, 34th national president of NOBLE, traveled from New Jersey for the occasion. Ship said Ernest was a leader in helping ex-offenders re-enter their communities.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense for us to give those individuals the tools they need to better their life and society overall?” Ship asked.

Ernest’s two sons stood on each side of the wooden easel grabbing a piece of the cloth before unveiling a framed photo of their father, a mock donation check for $1,500, and a summary of Ernest’s background.

His sons were next presented with shadow boxes containing some of Ernest’s NOBLE memorabilia, badges and other items surrounding a photo of their father. And at that point, Alicia couldn’t hold back her tears. 

NOBLE St. Louis Chapter President Lieutenant Colonel Ken Gregory said he regretted that he couldn’t attend the ceremony due to mandatory business travel. In a telephone interview, he spoke of how NOBLE has done everything in its power to continue Ernest’s initiatives.

The chapter donates car seats to needy mothers and accepts clothing donations for ex-offenders to ensure they are properly dressed for job interviews. NOBLE also annually collects old cell phones distributing them to domestic violence victims as a means to call the police.

The framed photo and mock check 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, that they really do care about you,” Burris said, “They want you to succeed.”

Visit NOBLE at noblenational.org. Follow this reporter on Twitter: @BridjesONeil.