This years recipient of the Kiwanis Club’s Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award is Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Travis Davidson, who is with the Uniform Division and a School Resource Officer Section. 

Prior to becoming a Deputy Sheriff, Travis attended and graduated from the Louisiana College, now Louisiana Christian University, with a Bachelor’s of Science. He was a standout basketball player between 1988-1991 where he scored over 1,000 points and had over 500 rebounds in his career.  He was inducted into the LCU Wildcat Hall of Fame in 2017.

Travis began his career with RPSO in 1994, first starting as a Corrections Security Officer working in the jail.  Later that year, he attended and completed the Alexandria Regional Police Academy and was transferred to the Patrol Division as a patrol deputy after graduation.

In 1995, the Community Policing Section was established by then Sheriff William Earl Hilton where deputies were put into areas to build a rapport with the community, which Travis fit into perfectly with his helpful demeanor and winning attitude.

In 2003, a new program was introduced by RPSO, the School Resource Officer program, which, much like the Community Policing Program, put a fully trained deputy sheriff in every school in Rapides Parish.  The deputy’s mission was to protect the students and faculty but also to foster a positive relationship with the students from a law enforcement perspective.  Travis was promoted to Lt., second in command to lead this new initiative.

Over the years, Travis has trained, supervised and mentored deputies assigned to the SRO program to make it what it is today, a model program that has been copied by many other agencies around the state.

Travis’s service before self also carries over into his personal life as an active member his church, Servants of Christ Church in Alexandria where he serves as Chairman and Superintendent of both the deacon and Sunday school ministries.  He has also served the community as a youth baseball and basketball coach for many years.  He also serves as a member of the non-profit Warhorse Tailgaters Association, which supports three local schools, where he is afforded the opportunity to mentor young people.

Travis has been married to his wife Hazel since 1992 and they have 5 children.

“Captain Davidson’s faith in God, selfless service, professionalism and dedication to duty is why we believe he should receive the Kiwanis Club of Alexandria, Lawman of the Year Award,” said Rapides Parish Sheriff Mark Wood.