Richard D. Barnes, Jr. was born
to Petty Officer First Class Richard D. Barnes, Sr. and Petty
Officer Second Class Oma Renee Barnes, both enlisted in the United
States Navy and assigned to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba. They couple were allowed a leave of absence and flown
to the Blytheville Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas so
that the mother could be near her family when the child was born.
He was born early on a rainy morning on September 10, 1981.
Both parents denied reenlistment after they were told their
next station would be in Italy so that they could raise David
near his family. They moved into a mobile home that David Sr.'s
parents owned on a plot of land about 30 miles northeast of Little
Rock. His father, an ex-communications specialist, took up work
for a local meat plant as senior technician while raising pigs
on the side. His mother become a homemaker and had another child,
a daughter, just two and a half years later.
It wasn't long after the birth of Alyssa that the couple divorced.
Renee was awarded custody of the children. The father disappeared
from their lives for a short time. During this period, Renee
become a full-time medic in the Army National Guard, stationed
at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Just over a year later, their father returned. He fought for,
and received custody, of both children, though Alyssa would remain
very close to her mother while David attached to his father.
They took up residence in Bryant, Arkansas with David Sr. and
his new wife Rhretta Robinson and her son Ben. Over the next
decade David would attend four different elementary schools and
go through four more step-mothers. His mother had an illegitimate
son during this time, eventually marrying an abusive husband.
It was then that David had his first thoughts about being a "cop" when
he grew up, so that he could stop people like his new brother's
father. The "family" eventually settled in Cabot, AR.
In high school David joined the local AFJROTC program while
also playing for the football team. In JROTC he progressed to
the rank of Cadet/Major and received seven national awards for
his work. He participated in the Color Guard, the Rifle Team,
and the P/T Team. In football he started on the offensive line,
and helped take the team to the State Championship quarterfinals
twice, but saw the Conference Championship every year he played.
He left football to focus more on JROTC, and held several top
positions.
His senior year in high school, he decided to join the United
States Air Force. He visited the MEPS three times, and each time
was denied entrance because of the size of his waist, which was
just under a quarter inch over the maximum limit. He decided
that the Air Force wasn't good enough for him, and decided to
go to college and get a degree.
David attended the University of Central Arkansas for two years,
getting an Associate of Art degree in history. During his second
year he was convinced by a friend's father to join the Police
Academy. He did so, and after twenty-four weeks of training,
he graduated and took a position in the Cabot Police Department.
Upon joining the force there, he was approached with the DARE
instructor's position, since he was studying to become a teacher
to begin with. After a short discussion, he accepted the job.
He held the job for a year before taking a promotion and became
a patrol officer.
After three more years in the Cabot Police Department, and many
struggles against a now-alcoholic father, ex-girlfriends, and
a city full of drama, he decided to leave Cabot. In fact, he
decided that it would be best to leave Arkansas, to leave the
region. He did some research and put in an transfer application
to the Sierra Falls Police Department in Sierra Falls, California.
He was accepted, and he began looking for a home there using
his trusting friend, the internet… |
