RICHMOND, Va. — A Richmond police officer is gaining national attention after his performance went viral on a popular talent competition show.
Wearing a police badge wasn’t the badge of honor Mervin Mayo dreamed of, mostly due to his coming-of-age in Richmond’s Creighton Court.
“80% of the people I grew up with either passed on or they are locked up,” Mayo said. “All the things that I’ve been involved in, you know, growing up, the things that I’ve seen.”
But one person saw a different side of Mayo. Fellow Richmond police officer Simmons provided Mayo a lifeline – and a chance to shine.
“It’s things that I’ve done where I should have been arrested, but instead, he took me under his wing to give me something to eat,” Mayo said.
Simmons provided the positive mentor Mayo needed, pushing him to find a different way to express his emotions.
He developed a lifelong love of playing the piano, all while belting out the word of God.
“Music is an outlet, like when I’m going through some things. I’ll come home or go to my church, jump on my piano,” Mayo said. “Sometimes I’ll play and I mean, for hours and hours and just play, just sing, just get it all out.”