$\"superman-logo-012a\"$ <\/a>

Meet Suzie Sawyer\u2013an unsung hero.<\/p><\/div>\n

Heroes and heroism is important in police psychology. Let me tell you about one of my heroes. Over 30 years ago, Suzie Sawyer served as National Secretary for the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary and she proposed holding an annual National Memorial Service for police officers killed in the line of duty.\u00a0 The first service had only 125 attendees.\u00a0 To increase attendance, the National FOP planned a Board Meeting in Washington, DC, in 1983, and an evening get-together was planned on the eve of Peace Officers\u2019 Memorial Day.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0There were others, though, who found out about the party.\u00a0 They were the people who came to Washington, DC, to hear their husband\u2019s name read aloud at the Memorial Service\u2026..the police widows.<\/span><\/p>\n

So they are at this big police party and some of these widows began to cry.\u00a0 The party mood was changing.\u00a0 Suzie decided to take them elsewhere to preserve the festivity.\u00a0 Little did she know she was doing something else as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suzie loaded ten women in a couple of cars and they went to the DC FOP Lodge to talk.\u00a0 \u00a0 Each widow told the story of their husband\u2019s deaths, how the funeral was planned by the agency without their input, how difficult it was to go on with their lives, and how they had even had voices in their heads<\/a>, and thoughts of suicide.\u00a0 When they finished their discussion hours later, the ten women felt better and asked Suzie if they could continue having meetings.\u00a0 \u00a0 Suzie was a little unsure of that request because, in those days, nobody in law enforcement ever talked about police death.\u00a0 They buried their officers with pomp and circumstance, but once it was over, the families had to fend for themselves, trying to explain what happened to them and deal with the grief<\/a>\u00a0on their own.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the next several months, Suzie kept in touch with the widows who now wanted a national support group.\u00a0 On May 14, 1984, Suzie started C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) to serve the surviving families of officers killed in the line of duty.\u00a0 \u00a0On May 14 ,1984, Suzie started a heroic journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet your butt up that tower,\u201d barks Suzie Sawyer to the young widow at the C.O.P.S. Spouses\u2019 Retreat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I am afraid, Suzie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you afraid of\u2026making it to the top?\u00a0 \u00a0Put one foot above the other and get up that tower, now!\u201d\u00a0 A crowd of widows and staff cheer her on as the woman climbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The woman stops halfway up and shivers.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re halfway there.\u00a0 Think of how much you have accomplished already.\u00a0 Keep going.\u201d\u00a0 The cheers rise; the woman continues to climb.\u00a0 \u201cSee, there is nothing you can\u2019t do if you put your mind to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The tower is 50-feet tall and, yes, succeeding and getting to the top helps people realize how strong they are and that they can get through the grieving process.\u00a0 Part drill sergeant, part psychologist, Suzie is always a sympathetic soul, determined, focused.\u00a0 She is the ultimate positive person when you meet her, also.\u00a0 Her personality is strong and infectious.\u00a0 If she tells you that you can do something \u2013 you can and will do it. She helps you put in the effort and increase your self-esteem<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

$\"UnsungHero\"$ <\/a>

Seek out the unsung heroes in your life and let them know how much they mean to you.<\/p><\/div>\n

She got the grant money to make her organization bigger and financially sound.\u00a0 You can\u2019t turn Suzie down.\u00a0 They own the building they reside in.\u00a0 She has 13 employees budgeted, and, yet, it all started in the Sawyer basement.\u00a0 \u00a0She remembers people she only met once.\u00a0 And people remember her.\u00a0 I met her 20 plus years ago and I remembered her, even her name.\u00a0 I had not seen her since, but her name came to mind when I started writing a blog.\u00a0 She is a remarkable person.<\/span><\/p>\n

With Suzie\u2019s guidance, they run programs for the spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty.\u00a0 They run programs for the kids of officers killed in the line of duty, and an Outward Bound Experience for teens and young adults.\u00a0 They have programs for fellow officers, for parents, siblings, significant others, and adult children of the officers.\u00a0 They give scholarships to surviving children and spouses wanting to study beyond high school; and they run a trauma education program for police officers across the country. If there is a need, C.O.P.S. will meet it. In all, they service over 30,000 families of officers killed in the line of duty.\u00a0 And they do it with the same compassion as in the first forced meeting in the FOP Lodge in Washington, D.C.<\/span><\/p>\n

And I am telling you, if you met Suzie you would not be surprised by any of this.\u00a0 Her personality is that positive and that strong.\u00a0 She is a true hero.\u00a0 And so is her husband Buzz who puts up with Suzie having a passion, almost like another child, that takes a lot of Suzie\u2019s time \u2014 the C.O.P.S. organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Unsung Heroes in Your Life<\/h3>\n
You need to relish the heroes in your life.\u00a0 You should seek out someone that has been a hero to you, and tell them.\u00a0 If they are not alive, tell their son or daughter.\u00a0 It changes you for the better when you do.\u00a0 It will make you feel good, and it honors the memory.\u00a0 People don\u2019t do this enough.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know why.\u00a0 Let me start with this article.<\/span><\/p>\n
Thank you, Suzie, for making so many women climb that tower!<\/span><\/p>\n
If you enjoyed this stress tip, sign up to receive updates for more posts on the latest in police psychology and stress management.<\/p>\n
Gary S. Aumiller, Ph.D. ABPP<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
Follow me on this blog click at left of page at the top of the sidebar<\/span><\/p>\n
For books by Dr. Gary S. Aumiller got to http:\/\/www.myherodad.com<\/a> or http:\/\/www.myheromom.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
Join me on Facebook or Linkedin (see sidebar).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Know Your Hero \u00a0 Heroes and heroism is important in police psychology. Let me tell you about one of my heroes. Over 30 years ago, Suzie Sawyer served as National Secretary for the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary and she proposed holding an annual National Memorial Service for police officers killed in the line of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[17168800,17168797,17168817,17168816],"class_list":["post-149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stories","tag-mental-health","tag-police-psychology","tag-stress-management","tag-stress-tip"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2743,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=2743","url_meta":{"origin":149,"position":0},"title":"Police Psychology | An Unsung Hero","author":"Gary Aumiller","date":"June 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Police Psychology | An Unsung Hero by Gary S. Aumiller, Ph.D.\u00a0 ABPP \u00a0 This weekend I was working on a cement block retaining wall, the ones that look like rocks but are really just carved cement.\u00a0 I needed to do about 50 feet of wall but I figured being 60\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Stories"","block_context":{"text":"Stories","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=1"},"img":{"alt_text":"drinking police","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/policepsychologyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/drinking-cop-300x230.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3158,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=3158","url_meta":{"origin":149,"position":1},"title":"Police Psychology | Officer Involved Shootings – Collateral Damage","author":"Gary Aumiller","date":"June 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Police Psychology | Officer Involved Shootings - Collateral Damage Chief George Filenko, Round Lake Park Police Department It was early New Year\u2019s morning 2006. The phone rang jolting me out of a sound sleep. The gruff voice on the other end of the phone was then Task Force Commander Bill\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rank and Leadership"","block_context":{"text":"Rank and Leadership","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=17168887"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":455,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=455","url_meta":{"origin":149,"position":2},"title":"Police Psychology | Officers Disproportionally Killing Black Men: Another False Narrative","author":"Gary Aumiller","date":"June 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Police Psychology | Officers Disproportionally Killing Black Men:\u00a0 Another False Narrative Guest Blogger Ron Martinelli, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned forensic criminologist and police expert directing the nation\u2019s only multidisciplinary Forensic Death Investigations and Independent Review Team at www.martinelliandassoc.com.\u00a0 His perspanl website is at www.drronmartinelli.com \u00a0 Among several prominent false\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Public Information Bureau"","block_context":{"text":"Public Information Bureau","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=17168888"},"img":{"alt_text":"martinelli image","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/policepsychologyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/martinelli-image-300x172.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3221,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=3221","url_meta":{"origin":149,"position":3},"title":"Police Psychology | Not-So Fantastic Four","author":"Gary Aumiller","date":"July 13, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Police Psychology | Not-So-Fantastic Four by Gary S. Aumiller, Ph.D.\u00a0 ABPP The Human Torch, the Invisible Woman, the Thing and Mr. Fantastic are Marvel's creation of four people with super powers who work together as a team to stop crime.\u00a0 Not one of their powers is complete, but together they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Police Stress"","block_context":{"text":"Police Stress","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=17168885"},"img":{"alt_text":"BURSTRESS","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/policepsychologyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/BURSTRES-300x210.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4600,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=4600","url_meta":{"origin":149,"position":4},"title":"Police Psychology: Be the Solution, Not the Cause","author":"Gary Aumiller","date":"November 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Police Psychology:\u00a0 Be the Solution, Not the Cause by Lt. Jason Childers, Texas We frequently hear about how stressful police work is, and the sacrifices we make in the service of our community is an oft-repeated narrative in police circles. The jerks we deal with on the street, the trauma\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Rank and Leadership"","block_context":{"text":"Rank and Leadership","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=17168887"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3100,"url":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?p=3100","url_meta":{"origin":149,"position":5},"title":"Police Psychology | Getting Off the Floor","author":"Gary Aumiller","date":"June 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Police Psychology | Getting Off the Floor by an Anonymous Reader \u00a0 Do you remember the first few minutes before you entered the police academy as a recruit? There were a million thoughts running through your mind. You landed the greatest job in the world and now you are going\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Police Stress"","block_context":{"text":"Police Stress","link":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/?cat=17168885"},"img":{"alt_text":"anxiety, Police Psychology","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/policepsychologyblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/anxiety-275x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p60sbO-2p","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=149"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1228,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149\/revisions\/1228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/policepsychologyblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}