Rufus Miles Lewis was born and raised in the Jordan Park Projects, in St. Petersburg, Florida. When Lewis began his law enforcement career in 1967, he did not fully realize the magnitude of “perils, hurdles and conflicts” he would encounter at the Tampa Police Department. “There were some darn good White police officers, but there were some super bad ones too,” says Lewis. Consequently, many of the early hired Black officers served as mentors to the younger Black officers. He credits his training officer, Patrolman Willie Bexley, for being his trusted advisor. When Lewis helped establish the Tampa Police Department’s School Resource Officer Program, he became the first sergeant promoted into the program. Sergeant Rufus Miles Lewis retired on November 18, 1983
“The Fearless Four stood on the shoulders of the Black pioneers that came before us.”
Rufus Lewis with TPD Basketball Team - Bridging the Gap
Rufus Lewis was Fearless in the Face of Adversity