ORLANDO, Fla. – During the 1950s, the first African-American officers were sworn into the Orlando Police Department.
Five men -- Belvin Perry Sr., Richard A. Jones, John W. Jordan, Otha Lee Kelly, Gainus Wright Jr. and Mayo Howard -- all helped integrate the department.
Making history for the city and one man's son, former Chief Judge Belvin Perry was in awe of his father's profession at an early age.
"Being fascinated with a police car with your father in it… growing up in small town Orlando and the pride that you took in seeing him be a law enforcement officer," Perry said.
He also was found of riding in his father's police car.
"I remember a couple of times walking home from school and he would pass by and pick me up," Perry said.
Perry Sr. and Jones were sworn into the department on Jan. 3, 1951.
Both men patrolled the Parramore Avenue and Church Street area together at that time it was the heart of the black business district.
"Understand that you have two guys that did not at the time go through any real formal training. They were given her uniform handcuffs, a night stick and a slap jack, which is basically a piece of metal that is wrapped in leather," Perry Jr. said.
Even though Perry Sr. and Jones were officers they were forbidden from arresting whites that was not the only discrimination they faced.
Tension developed among their colleagues in their department.
"There wasn't exactly a big welcome mat for them by some of the other officers a few of the officers did not like sharing the same bathroom facilities with them," Perry Jr. said.
However, Perry Sr. and Jones remained steadfast in their approach and knew they were working on something for a higher purpose.
"They were trailblazers and they knew if they failed that it would be difficult for others to follow... they sucked it up and probably took insults that some would not take today," Perry continued.
Perry Jr. is a retired chief judge who now works as an attorney said he and his siblings all went on to professional success because of the example set by people like his father.
He said he will always remember his father's motto: "Nobody can define you but yourself don't listen to that outside noise. You can be anything that you want to be in this world, if you study and apply yourself. But don't listen to those outside voices, never let anyone define you, whether your black, white or purple."
Statues for Perry Sr. and Jones was erected in the roundabout at the intersection of Wooden Boulevard and Hankins Circle in 2010.
Perry Sr. died in 1995.