RON BESHEARS
How do view strength when working with a community?
Well I view it as communication, not being afraid to talk, not being afraid to get out there. I always feel you got to get to know your community, and somebody’s got to get the ball rolling. So that’s why I get to talking, that’s why they call me the Mayor of Millsbrae. I get out there and talk and people always come to me. I’m not afraid to talk to you, I’m not going let them thugs come over and take over the neighborhood. I’d die before they do that. I’ve dealt with people like that, I spent 21 years in the marine core. I did investigation, I’ve arrested a lot of people. If you show people that you’re scared that’s when they’ll pick on you, but if you show you’re not afraid of them they’ll think about it. Stand and fight, protect yourself. You need to stand your ground, they ain’t gonna mess with you. Turn the other cheek, I don’t believe in turn the other cheek, I believe in stepping on their cheek. I just think about how to protect myself and my family, I worked for this, nobody gave me anything. That’s why you always ask the Lord to give you strength everyday to live another day. But you need to have the power in yourself, don’t be afraid of anyone. I let them know I have a weapon and I’m gonna use it, so if you wanna come through there come on through, but they’re gonna carry you out. I’ve made a few arrests around here, I don’t play.
How do you find this confidence in your strength?
It came from the military, I was an MP in the military and worked for United Security. I was a chaser, a chaser is someone that goes after someone in the military that goes AWOL, I go get them and bring them back. One time I was chasing someone and I got hit by his girlfriend with the car. It knocked me in the air, but luckily I stopped him with my gun. When I was laying on the gurney at Highland Hospital. and this guy came in on a wheelchair with a deputy behind him pushing him. He recognized me, and I called for the doctor to get me out the hallway.
What are few pillars you used to build your confidence to become a strong person?
I just learned how to talk with people. I learned how to talk with girls. It built me up more and more. Don’t be afraid to talk. When you talk to someone make sure you’re knowledgeable so that you have something to relate to. Just talking means nothing, you need to have the common sense to talk back. Talk with people to know what level they’re on. We can always talk about the neighborhood, but let’s talk out the neighborhood. Don’t stay in the box, get out the box.
What made you different, what made you become a chaser?
I was born in New Orleans. I was born in the projects, Ninth Ward. You had to learn how to defend yourself, I was shy talking to girls, but I knew how to fight. I always say I’m ghetto. When I was raised in New Orleans my mother was a nurse, but then she got hurt and couldn’t be a nurse anymore. I had to learn a lot of things on my own, but she taught me a lot. But she taught me a lot. The only way you’re going to get respect is if you respect others. Don’t go looking for trouble and you won’t find it, and if you see trouble turn around. Don’t wait for somebody to give you something, go and get it, so therefore no one can take it from you, you earned it. I used to work at corner grocery store for $5 a week, I used to buy me and brother clothes for school. My two older brothers were in the military and they came out here, I also have a younger sister and a younger brother. I listed to my mom and put it into action, nobody will give you anything, and whatever you get hold onto it, don’t let anybody take it from you. People will try to take things from you, I got my ass whooped a lot of times, but one thing I earned was respect. When you stand up for yourself even though you won’t win, you let that person know I’m not going down easy. I know I’m gonna get whooped, but I’m gonna earn your respect. Then one day they leave you alone because they know you’ll stand your ground. When I was in the military stationed overseas in the Mediterranean, I ran into racism. But I knew how to deal it, this world will never be perfect. I learned a way to move around it to get the jobs I want. Act like you know what you’re doing and dress sharply, nobody will mess with you. I might know nothing, but I look sharp and act sharp nobody will mess with me. If you don’t look presentable, people will find something wrong and challenge you. I used to go to the PX and people wondered how I didn’t get stopped. I kept my shoes shined, uniform pressed, shaved, hair was cut, and I had my binder with me, And my binder had nothing in it.