By Maggi Marshall
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RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – A Richmond police officer is gaining national attention after his performance on a popular talent show went viral.
Wearing a police badge was not the badge of honor Mervin Mayo dreamed of, largely because he grew up in Creighton Court in Richmond.
“Eighty percent of the people I grew up with are either dead or incarcerated,” Mayo said. “All the things I was involved in, you know, growing up, the things I saw.”
But someone saw another side of Mayo. His colleague Simmons, a police officer from Richmond, was a rescue for Mayo – and a chance to shine.
“I did things that I should have been arrested for, but instead he took me under his wing and gave me something to eat,” Mayo said.
Simmons was the positive mentor Mayo needed and pushed him to find another way to express his feelings.
He developed a lifelong love of playing the piano, constantly belting out the Word of God.
“Music is an outlet when I’m going through something, for example. I come home or go to church and sit on my piano,” Mayo said. “Sometimes I play for hours and just play, just sing and just let it all out.”
Today, Mayo serves as a School Resource Officer at Richmond Alternative School.
“Most of the kids are already in shackles and on probation. They’ve already been kicked out of all the other schools. So we have to get through this because the next step is prison.”
Mayo is working to change their trajectory using the tools he has been given – a keyboard and some important life lessons.
“Getting them excited about my music is just enough to keep them off the streets. You know what I mean? If I give them an outlet, I give them an outlet,” Mayo said.
Mayo’s talent has not only fascinated his students – in 2020, a video of him singing in uniform went viral.
“I just like singing and posting, so I didn’t expect this,” Mayo said. “It just doesn’t happen to people like me.”
Now an even larger audience will get to see what Mayo can do: at the America’s Got Talent competition.
His performance brought the audience to their feet, fascinated the jury and catapulted him into the next round of the competition.
“I still can’t believe it,” Mayo said. “It’s just unreal. To take your talents to a whole other platform.”
And although the outcome of the competition is still uncertain, Mayo feels like they have already won.
“Not just that I’m still alive and well, but that I’m still alive, well and hearty. And there are simply no words that can describe this calling.”
Mayo says he wants to continue helping other youth succeed in life and make a difference.
“You know, I know my time is limited. I shouldn’t really be here, but I am here. And I’m grateful for that.”
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