Illinois LEO talks Law Enforcement with Local Girl Scouts

Officer Joy Davis, a veteran of the Edwardsville Police Department in Edwardsville, Ill., spoke about law enforcement with Girl Scouts who attended the Cadette STEM Series program at Camp Torqua. Davis discussed her career in law enforcement, as well as fingerprinting and techniques on reading body language.

Davis is a school resource officer and a D.A.R.E. spokeswoman. She was in the Girl Scouts through her sophomore year of high school.

Davis told the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois that she credits her time in the Girl Scouts with shaping the attitude that enabled her to pursue a career in law enforcement.

“There weren’t as many women getting into law enforcement as there are today,” she said. “In fact, I was only the second female officer to be hired by Edwardsville.”

“They (Girl Scouts) help to develop a sense of self, respect for others and gives youth an opportunity to leave their mark on the world and make it a better place,” she said. “The lessons they can learn are lessons they will carry with them their entire lives. It’s about courage, confidence and character; it’s blazing a trail for future generations to see. It’s lending a helping hand when no one else will and seeing what needs to be done and getting it done. That’s what Girl Scouts taught me!”