As a Bryan police officer, Donnie Manry has built a career on capturing criminals, many of whom have ended up behind bars serving lengthy prison sentences. Now 43-year-old Manry, who was left partially paralyzed after contracting the West Nile virus last year, is getting help from a seemingly unlikely source - prison inmates. A group of about 15 men incarcerated at the Wallace Pack Unit in Navasota heard about Manry's plight and offered up paintings and other crafts to be auctioned off during an upcoming benefit for the Manry family. Dub Pearson, one of Manry's close friends and a volunteer prison chaplain, said he initially was approached by an inmate who said he simply wanted to help after learning Pearson was chairman of an April 28 fund-raiser for Manry's family. The officer, who has not been able to return to work, has incurred more than $300,000 in medical bills over the past few months as he struggles to recover. Pearson said he gladly accepted the inmate's offer. Many were inspired by Manry's determination and hard work after doctors said he'd never walk again, Pearson said. Although his recovery has been slow, Manry can now walk short distances with the help of a walker. "We know [the inmates] very well," said Pearson, who also teaches a class through The Association of Ex-Offenders at the prison once a week. "The first thing you learn about inmates is that they are people and they have a soul. They are loving, caring people. Many of them are just like your next-door neighbor." Pearson first started witnessing to prisoners while serving as a bailiff and since has made it his mission to reach people behind bars, he said. By donating their artwork, Pearson said, it gives the inmates a chance to reach out to a community from which they often feel distant. "Just because we're locked up doesn't mean we don't have a heart and feelings for others. We do care," wrote one inmate, whose name could not be released, according to Pearson. "[Manry] is a human being and a person in need first. Being an officer is just a job title." Manry said he was thankful for all of the help people have offered to his family over the past several months. The inmate's gesture is special to him, he said. "I can tell you when [Pearson] first mentioned that to me it was just unbelievable," he said. "It speaks to the character of those inmates -Ênot a lot of people can do that. I've always found that even though you may be in opposite positions, we are all the same. When you treat someone with respect, they treat you with respect." Pearson said many of the men who created the artwork have few resources and rare, if any, contact with their families. They have gained the privilege to work in the prison's craft shop and use what little money they earn to buy art supplies and other items in the prison's commissary. The works of art that will be auctioned during the benefit later this month range from religious scenes to portraits of Texas A&M head football coach Dennis Franchione and former head basketball coach Billy Gillispie. A few leather crafts, including a handmade leather bag, also will be sold. "What this proves is even inmates behind bars are willing to give of their own things to help others," Pearson said. "There is good in most everybody. "Some feel like they've taken something away from society and they want to give back," added Pearson's wife, Johnnie, who also volunteers in the prisons. The inmates are just a few of the scores of folks from around the community and across the state who have stepped up to donate items, bake cakes and barbecue briskets, all in efforts to raise money for the Manry family, Pearson said. "It's all kinds of people stepping up and making these contributions," Pearson said. "It's just unbelievable. It's all for Donnie and his family."
Bet all the "ART WORK " has messages in them for the outside gangs............
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops
About MassCops, the home for Massachusetts law enforcement.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network opened in 1998 and is now a part of the New England Police Network The site is a pro-police discussion forum intended for sworn police officers and civilian law enforcement officials as well as those interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement here in Massachusetts.
The goal of The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network is to provide an informal network of law enforcement officials here in Massachusetts for educational and informational purposes.
The forum covers many topics such as Police Related News Articles, Agency & Profession Discussions, Police Training as well as Law Enforcement Career Information.
The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network and The New England Police Network (NEPN) and it's network sites are privately owned websites/domains and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any government association or agency.
MassCops (masscops.com) and (masscop.com) are privately owned are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (masscop.org)
ma police, boston ma police, massachusetts police, massachusetts police, mass state police, mass police, ma, mass, massachusetts, massachusetts, massachutes, massachusetts law, massachusetts polece, police, officer, police officer, cops, police gear, law enforcement, police duty gear, state police, sheriff, law, police supply, police agency directory, police agency, police department, traffic officer, police dept, state trooper, dispatcher, massachusetts county sheriff, massachusetts sheriff, massachusetts department of corrections, ma doc, doc, dept of corrections, police information, civil service, ma civil service, massachusetts crime, police training, police academy, ma police academy, massachusetts officers, masscop, masscops, mpa, bpa, ibpoa, police association, massachusetts police news, massachusetts crime news, mass most wanted, police career information, police patrol, police administration, police books, crime scene training, police discussion, crime discussions, cops