Deputy's Widow Calls For Officers, Community Leaders To Connect In Classroom
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The widow of a local deputy who was murdered last fall has a message for the president, and she's heading to Washington, D.C. for Barack Obama's State of The Union Address.
Susan Oliver is concerned recent anti-police protests will jeopardize more officers' lives and cause children to see law enforcement as the enemy.
"There's bad apples in everything. There's bad doctors, bad reporters, bad teachers, there's bad everything," she said. "But it's being focused on law enforcement, and that's what I'd like to help repair is the communication."
Oliver's husband, Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy Danny Oliver, was shot to death at the beginning of a violent October rampage through two counties by two suspects who are facing a litany of charges.
Susan Oliver is now launching a foundation in her husband's name. Her vision is for officers and community leaders to connect better with kids in the classroom.
"There will be less people wanting to go into law enforcement if we don't repair the damage that's been done," she said.
She'd also like to see the racial ranks of law enforcement reflect the community it serves.
"I also want to extend scholarships to kids would want to go into law enforcement," she said.
Rep. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) invited Oliver to the president's address on Tuesday.
"It's about having positive conversations. It's about open dialogue," he said.
She's hoping to share her dream of better police and community relations directly with the White House.
"I think it I'm doing it more so for my children," she said. "Because I'd hate to think that they're father's death was not for something."
The State of The Union address will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.