NATCHEZ — Former Natchez Police officer Roosevelt Owens Jr. was known by a few nicknames on the street, but his longtime friends and fellow officers from the department said Owens was known as a friend to all.

Retired Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy Jody Waldrop worked with Owens — also known as “Roe,” “Bro. Owens” and “Fox” — for more than 20 years at the NPD.

“He had several nicknames, and everyone knew his name,” Waldrop said. “He never met a stranger he didn’t make a friend.”

Owens, 59, who died Friday, started his career at NPD in 1980 after working for the city’s sanitation department for several years. Owens and Waldrop worked as the department’s two-man narcotics team for several years.

Waldrop said he and Owens targeted neighborhoods overrun with drugs and street-corner drug dealers.

“We were very proactive,” Waldrop said. “Everybody knew us, we didn’t do anything undercover.”

The partners’ battle against drugs in the community gained them trust and appreciation from residents, Waldrop said.

“We always got a lot of compliments from people because we were so vigilant and active,” Waldrop said.

ACSO Deputy Charles Sims first met Owens while they were both in junior high school. Owens attended South Natchez High School before the public school system was integrated and participated in local marches during the Civil Rights Movement.

Sims said Owens grew up to be one of the most talented narcotics officers Natchez has seen.

Sims said he remembers a case from many years ago in which officers sent a narcotics dog into a house.

“The dog couldn’t find the drugs, but Roe went right in there and found them,” Sims said. “He was good, he was very good.”

Owens was honored as Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer for 1983-1984 and Outstanding Officer in 1991.

Sims said Owens did not do police work for the awards, he said law enforcement was Owens’ passion.

“He did it because he loved it, not for the accolades,” Sims said.

Waldrop and Owens were both promoted to detectives in the Criminal Investigation Division in 1994. The two worked at the department until January 2004, when Owens retired and Waldrop went to work for the sheriff’s office.

Waldrop said Owens was known as tough cop on the street, but he said Owens also had a compassionate and kind side in law enforcement.

“If we could give someone a break, we did,” Owens said. “Roe believed in that, and I believe the way we handled things helped the community and the people we were protecting.”

Waldrop and Sims both said Owens was not just a fellow officer and friend, he was a brother.

“We did everything together off-duty,” he said. “He was a true friend, my brother, and I will miss him dearly.”

Sims said Owens was always there when he needed him and was a dedicated and hard-working family man.

“He really loved his family,” he said. “His family always came first.”

Waldrop said there will never be another police officer like Owens.

“Roe was one-of-a-kind,” he said. “The knowledge and the experience he had can never be duplicated.”

“Natchez lost a good public servant,” Waldrop said.