It’s with great sadness and reverence that we recognize the passing of two of NACOLE’s founders, James L. Johnson, Esq. and Deacon Clyde Benson Davis, Sr., who were both instrumental in the early development of NACOLE. Though NACOLE only recently learned of Mr. Davis’ passing, we thought it was important to recognize his contributions to the organization, in tandem with Mr. Johnson, whom we lost in June.

Their vision of creating a community of support in the field of civilian oversight of law enforcement, jails and prisons, helped shape NACOLE into the organization it is today – serving oversight agencies and individuals across the US, providing support and expertise to promote and advocate for sound policy in the field, and acting as a resource for jurisdictions who are working to establish or expand oversight.

Mr. Johnson’s and Mr. Davis’ commitment to seeking greater accountability in law enforcement, jails and prisons during their lifetimes, has helped ensure our communities are safer, and citizen interactions with police are more equitable. We owe them a sincere debt of gratitude, and our heartfelt condolences go out to their families.



Deacon Clyde Benson Davis, Sr.
Sept. 17, 1947 - Dec 16, 2020

Mr. Davis, the son of Deacon Richard Owens Davis and Deaconess Thelma W. Davis, was born Sept. 17, 1947 in Warrenton, NC.

A math instructor, Clyde served at Michigan State University, Lansing Community College in Michigan and Lancaster Bible College in Lanham, Md. Over 40 years, he was systems design engineer at AAI Corporation, manager of DBA Systems, Inc., vice president and co-owner of BJ Systems, Inc., senior BPR consultant/senior software engineer, RSI program manager of Ultra Technologies, Inc. and director, Business Development of QMI. Clyde later served as a professor of mathematics at Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla.

A Sunday school and adult Bible study teacher, he was chairman of the Deacon Board (Mt. Calvary Baptist), church administrator (New Song Bible Fellowship) and trustee (Allen Chapel AME Church).           

James L. Johnson, Esq.
Dec. 8, 1945 - June 20, 2025

James Lawrence Johnson was born on December 8, 1945, in Cincinnati, Ohio to his loving parents James Horace and Janie Lou Johnson.

In 1973, James became the founding director of Emanuel Bridge Boys Group Home, where he worked until its closure in 1979/1980. He entered The Ohio State University College of Law in the fall of 1977, graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1980, and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in November of that year.

In 1980, James began working for the City of Cincinnati, mainly in the City Solicitor’s Office. He would serve the City of Cincinnati for more than 25 years, serving as an Assistant City Solicitor in both the prosecutor’s office and the civil division and serving as the private complaint coordinator. From 1991 to 1996, he served as an Assistant to the Cincinnati City Manager and was the Chief Investigator of the City’s Office of Municipal Investigation (OMI), where he investigated allegations of misconduct by city employees, including police officers and city contractors. While in this role, he was a founding member of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE).