Monday, Jan. 30, 2012

AIKEN, S.C. -- The death of Master Cpl. Sandy Rogers is the second for the Aiken Public Safety Department in just over a month.

Officers say she touched the lives of many colleagues and citizens. Their loss is tremendous, but now one officer is trying to start a program to help colleagues cope.

"She trained many officers," said Sgt. Chris Chavous with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. "She is a model officer, she really is."

Chavous used to work for Aiken Public Safety. He first met Rogers back in 1997.

"The strict Mama! She was very good at making sure officers learned how to do the job right," he remembered.

Over the years he's seen several tragedies that have taken an emotional toll on him and his family.

"I myself was involved with two critical incidences with a death of Sgt. Sheppard when he was directing traffic," he explained.

Now he, along with his fellow law enforcement officers, are coping with the death of another veteran officer. It's one of the reasons he started Support 1, a nonprofit organization designed to help departments cope with critical events or the loss of a first responder.

"Unfortunately, there is always going to be a need for this. As long as there are criminals, there are going to be critical incidences," said Michael Ford, a volunteer fire fighter and vice chair of Support 1.

Support 1 is reaching out to community sponsors and citizens to help raise money, which is needed in times when many departments are cutting back.

"They have to take care of their officers mentally and their employees, too," Chavous added.

The fund will offer professional counseling and support within a department during their time of grieving.

"Some people may take a month, some may take years, and some people may never get over it. Support 1 wants to be there to ensure these departments have the financial capabilities," Ford said.

Chavous knows from his own experience the emotional drain can affect personnel for years to come.

"Some guys and some gals take it harder, some may brush it off," Chavous said.

You can find more information about Support 1 through its website here.