Deputy Jon Willis "wanted to help someone"

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GREENVILLE, N.C. - Jon Willis was known for his work as a deputy in Greene County, but his career extended further than law enforcement.

Willis also helped out with designing law enforcement vehicles at Solar Creations in Winterville.

Both his basic law enforcement training instructor and the owner at solar creations say he was a man that would do anything to help someone in need.

"One of my slogans here is some people are meant to be the police and some people are meant to call the police and truly he was meant to be the police," said Jeff Robinson, with PCC Public Safety Training Director.

Few people find their calling, but Jeff Robinson says Deputy Jon Willis knew his all along.

"That's what he wanted to do, he wanted to help somebody and even last night - same case - wanted to help someone," said Robinson.

Robinson taught Willis during his time in law enforcement training.

"I would say he was a quiet giant," said Robinson.

But Michael Roberson with Solar Creations in Winterville says he was a different side.

"Never a dull moment; if you knew him in law enforcement he was a very stern and quiet person, when you knew him in the personal sense - very bubbly.  You would never see the two sides ever mix so well, but they did," said Roberson.

When Willis wasn't on the beat he helped Roberson out designing and repairing law enforcement vehicles.

"The camera system was giving us some issues and so he changed out a DVD drive yesterday and, just...you know it was hard to come in and see the car this morning," said Roberson.

Roberson says a conversation he had recently with Willis helps him get through today.

"Very recently I had the opportunity to sit down at lunch and talk to Willis about his salvation and it was a very, very nice talk," said Roberson.

Michael Roberson at solar creations has been asked to make a graphic of the Greene County Sheriff’s Badge.

It will go on a Fountain Police motorcycle that Willis built himself.  The badge will also be presented to his family in honor of Willis' service to his community.

August 2nd, this Monday, is Willis’ birthday.  He would have been 32-years-old.

http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/jul/29/3/deputy-jon-willis-wanted-help-someone-ar-317117/


im going to be a hermit and never go out side wth these crazy ass people!!!!

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The shocking murder of Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Willis isn't a shock for them, especially after finding out that the gunman is a man who they say terrorized their neighborhood.
"He did have a drinking problem. He was troubled. He was a troubled youth," said Vice President of Brooke Meadows Community Association Francis Taylor.
Taylor is a friend of the gunman's mother.
She says,"He had the problem that he couldn't drink. When he drank, he got out of hand."
On the night of the murder suicide it seems he had been drinking again. It comes as no surprise to neighbors who say their cries for help went unheard.
Neighbor Kim Thorpe said, "Whenever he gets drunk or high he always shoots the gun, and the cops have been called several times."
She says officers who responded found their hands tied when Meyers said he fired the gun from his own property. Greene County laws allow that. With no way to prove he fired the weapon off of the property where he lived, officers had to let him go.
"There was no sense in calling the police because all they were gonna' say was that he was in his own yard."
Meyers mother tried to get help for him, but her attempts failed.
"She had told him to get rid of the weapon. She had no idea that he still had a weapon. She was devastated," said Taylor.
Still neighbors who once feared him say they aren't sad to see him go. There is still no word on who, if anyone, the gun was registered.

http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/jul/29/3/neighbors-surprised-fatal-shooting-ar-317047/