PLANT CITY, Fla. — Plant City Police is honoring five of their own this Black History month.

They’ve transformed a waiting area at the police station into a historic treasure trove of memorabilia that recognizes the achievements of the first African-American officers within the police department.

“The legacy these officers left behind for this agency is huge,” said Plant City Police Chief Jim Bradford.

When he arrived three months ago, Chief Bradford called for his officers to conduct research to create the special display. It’s called Pioneers in Law Enforcement.   

Edwin Lee Candis, Henry Perry, King Solomon Gant, Roosevelt “Bobby” Miller, and Carlton Cooper were the pioneers that integrated the Plant City Police Department in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Their pictures are part of the display.

“They loved the people,” said Bradford. “They loved the area and they sought to make a difference in the community.”

But it wasn’t easy. The men were limited to policing on the side of the railroad tracks, where African-Americans lived. And when the officers started, they did not get a patrol car. They had to police on foot. The African-American officers also had to overcome communication challenges.

“They were not given radios,” said Plant City Corporal Stevie Carmack. “They were given a handful of dimes. So if they had any issues or emergencies, they had to call for assistance, assistance from other officers to come to their aid.”

But through it all, they thrived and paved the way for officers like Corporal Stevie Carmack, who’s been with the department since 2008. Carmack helped with the research for the display.

“The history needs to be told,” said Carmack. “We need to understand that that history is important.”

Today, the Plant City police department still only has five black officers in the department. The Chief said he will be launching a diversity recruitment campaign to get more applicants from different backgrounds to apply.