PROFILE
By Nancy Peevy | Portrait photo by Keith Branch
Sgt. Jesse Vermillion
A Servant’s Heart
The reason Sgt. Jesse Vermillion gives back is tattooed on his arm. It’s a Bible verse, Mark 10:45, which reads, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
“That’s something obviously I fail to do, but I think that’s a goal,” Jesse said. “That’s what I consider my personal philosophy is: to live to serve others.”
Jesse learned that early in life from watching his grandfather, Ervin MacFarland. Growing up living a block away from his grandparents’ house in Wichita, Kansas, Jesse spent every afternoon with them after school.
“He had the biggest impact on my life,” Jesse said. “He really exemplified the servant heart. If anybody ever needed anything, he was always doing anything he could to help. He was always doing extra things for our church, and he served in the Army in World War II and was a prisoner of war in Germany.”
His grandfather’s example was part of the reason Jesse chose his career. “Because I saw him growing up and so I wanted to do something to help other people and help the community,” he said. Every day, Jesse helps the community through his work as a sergeant for the Fayetteville Police Department.
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From Wichita, Jesse followed his future wife, Jackie, to the University of Arkansas, choosing to major in criminal justice and sociology to help people through public service. He married Jackie in 2011, and they now have three little girls, ages 7, 6 and 14 months.
Following graduation in May 2014, Jesse got a job as a patrol officer with the Fayetteville Police Department. After about six years, he was promoted to detective and then was in the Special Investigations Unit, which specializes in crimes committed against children.
“I do particularly like that work,” Jesse said. “It’s very fulfilling. There’s a lot of ups and downs. It definitely feels like you’re winning the Super Bowl or losing the Super Bowl. When you get a case, and you know something bad has happened to a kid, and you get the outcome you want and put a bad guy in jail, you feel like you won the Super Bowl. There’s no better feeling in law enforcement than taking a kid out of a bad situation and putting a predator in prison.”
Cpt. Doug Pope, Detective Jesus Magana, Crime Scene Technician Bobbye Orona, Sgt. Jesse Vermillion, Chief Mike Reynolds, Detective Matt Zimmermann, Detective Josh Bailey and Detective Garrett Levine at the Children's Safety Center's Handprints for Hope luncheon in March
Almost two years ago, Jesse was promoted to sergeant in the Special Investigations Unit. “I’ve got the best job in the police department right now,” he said. “I’ve got the best detectives, the best investigators in the state, and we’re all very passionate about what we do.”
Jesse and his team work closely with the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County for forensic interviews. Recently, the organization gave him its Outstanding Agency Partner award at its Handprints for Hope Luncheon.
“Sgt. Jesse Vermillion goes above and beyond for the children we serve, and his dedication to protecting and advocating for our kids is an incredible gift to our community,” said Elizabeth Shackelford, executive director at the CSC. “He is a true partner in the Children’s Safety Center’s mission, and we were honored to recognize his commitment with our Agency Partner award at this year’s Handprints for Hope Luncheon. Fayetteville is fortunate to have leaders like Sgt. Vermillion who consistently put children’s safety and healing first.”
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Jesse stressed the importance of his division’s partnership with the CSC in investigating and prosecuting their cases. He emphasized the center’s expertise in obtaining accurate statements from the victims, which are crucial in putting the bad guys behind bars. However, their role doesn’t stop there.
“They give those kids a safe space to talk,” Jesse said, “and then give them resources and services and continue to reach out to these kids for years afterward to get them the counseling they might need.”
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For Jesse, working with kids is rewarding. That’s why he also gives back outside of work by heading up the annual Cops 4 Kids Denim and Diamonds Gala, which helps fund the Fayetteville Police Department’s Shop with a Cop Program, the Youth Citizens Police Academy, scholarships and other programs benefiting children.
“Working in child crimes and helping some of those same kids who might not get a lot for Christmas and helping those families that just need an extra hand is pretty rewarding,” Jesse said.
Currently, Jesse is heading up the fourth annual Denim and Diamonds Gala. He started it to fund Shop with a Cop, which pairs children referred by Fayetteville elementary school counselors with a Fayetteville police officer to shop at Walmart and Target during Christmastime for clothes and toys. Because of the gala, the police officers have $200 to spend on each of the 200 children in the program.
With the funds raised, they’ve also been able to provide Walmart gift cards to homeless junior high and high school students, identified through Fayetteville Public Schools’ Outback Food Pantry. Each of those kids receives a $150 Walmart gift card right before Christmas break.
The Denim and Diamonds fundraiser, on Nov. 14, will be at the Fayetteville Public Library and is open to the public. It will feature DJ Derrick for music, a live auction, silent auction, food and drinks. Last year, the event raised more than $50,000, and this year, Jesse hopes to raise $60,000.
Sgt. Jesse Vermillion with his wife, Jackie, at the Children's Safety Center's Dream Big Gala
Sgt. Jesse Vermillion at Shop with a Cop in 2024
“It’s a great cause,” he said. “You’re helping children right here in our community in Fayetteville, and there’s certainly a lot of kids and families that are financially in need and might need a little extra help around Christmas. I’ve helped a little girl who came in and was just excited to get a new coat because she had a hole in hers. You know, it’s not even necessarily about the toys. They’re excited because they need clothes, and they get to pick out their clothes themselves.”
Serving others, making sure children have what they need to thrive, Jesse exemplifies a servant’s heart. His grandfather would be proud.