"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : ANSLEY REED SR., FIRST NEGRO POLICE OFFICER ON THE MONROE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE 20TH CENTURY

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE :                  ANSLEY REED SR., FIRST NEGRO POLICE OFFICER ON THE MONROE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE 20TH CENTURY               While so much "FANFARE" was being made over the end of the Louisiana Inspection Sticker, did anyone else happen to notice that something very disturbing is going on in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the Louisiana State House of Congress? "I MEAN BESIDES THE NEW PROSED BILLS FOR ARRESTING HOMELESS PEOPLE AND NEW VOTING REQUIREMENTS?" Well, I just learned that there's another "OFF THE WALL BILL" that is being tossed around as well! The Bill in question happens to be "HOUSE BILL 608" that's sponsored by State Representative Tehmi Chassion, of Lafayette, Louisiana. By the way, I was informed that the Bill had passed the Senate on a 22-13 vote. However, since the Bill was amended, it has to return to the House of Representatives for a second vote. In case everyone doesn't already know, House Bill 608 will make it legal for Universities and certain organizations to "HIDE DETAILS ON HOW MUCH PUBLIC MONEY IS BEING PAID TO COLLEGE ATHLETES!" Incidentally, the Louisiana Sports and Athletic budget for 2026 is in the neighborhood of,       "A WHOOPING 22 MILLION DOLLARS," and that doesn't even include the "EXTRA 20 MILLION FOR OTHER SPORTS EVENTS AND ADDITIONAL FACILITIES!" Personally, I think that it is "VERY UNETHICAL" of the Governor and the members of The Louisiana State Congress to even suggest such a thing, let alone make it into a Bill that could actually become a State Law. No wonder even the White People in Louisiana are gathering a petition to recall Governor Jeff Landry!!! Now that I have gotten that out of the way, on to this week's Black Pioneer! Before attending Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ansley Reed Sr. received his early education in Caldwell Parish. In the 1940s, he answered the call to serve in WWll, serving in the South Pacific. Once he returned home from the war, Ansley enrolled in, and eventually graduated from, "THE HISTORIC ROBINSON BUSINESS COLLEGE," in Monroe Louisiana. By the way, Ansley's career took several interesting turns. First he worked as an Accountant, then he became a business partner with Roosevelt Wright Sr.,"IN A THRIVING TAXI-CAB BUSINESS," which was located on Desiard Street, in Monroe. 

"FINALLY, ANSLEY DECIDED TO BECOME A MONROE CITY POLICE OFFICER!" On September 8, 1953, "ANSLEY REED SR. AND ROOSEVELT HATTEN NAMES WERE RECORDED AND CEMENTED IN HISTORY WHEN THEY WERE OFFICIAL SWORN IN AS THE FIRST TWO NEGRO POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE CITY OF MONROE, LOUISIANA!" Some interesting facts to go along with Ansley 's hiring as a police officer in Monroe included : he wasn't issued a gun, the Negro Community took up a collection and bought him a gun ; he was not sent to a police academy, he had to depend on his military experience ; he was not even issued a uniform, his uniform was hand sewn by IBRA JANUARY, aka"JANUARY THE TAILOR" ; and he was not allowed to arrest or investigate a crime if it involved a White Man or Citizen! Additionally, it was in October 1968 when Ansley was promoted to Sergeant, although he had been getting Sergeant’s pay for years "TO KEEP HIM FROM TAKING THE TEST TO BECOME A SERGEANT!" Four years later, on April 1, 1972,"ANSLEY GAINED THE DISTINCTION AND HONOR OF BECOMING THE FIRST NEGRO IN MONROE TO ATTAIN THE RANK OF CAPTAIN WITHIN THE MONROE POLICE DEPARTMENT!" On another note, before he retired from the Monroe Police Force in September of 1973, Captain Ansley Reed Sr. learned that his son, Ansley Reed Jr. had fathered a child, who would later go on to become a professional basketball player in the NBA. THE CHILD'S NAME IS, BENOIT "BIG BEN" BENJAMIN! Sadly, on May 15, 1989, after serving in WWll, and serving another 20 years of on the Monroe Police Department, Ansley Reed Sr. departed this life, on May 15, 1989.