By Staff
In February of this year, the house of a family living outside of Lansing tragically burned down in a fire. While the family was coping with the loss and attempting to rebuild, their new home was burglarized. The mother in that family had had enough. She tracked down the perpetrators and gave the information over to local deputies.
This woman is a "crime fighting mom" who decided to make a difference in her community by acting quickly and making sure a crime did not go unpunished, and that her neighbors did not continue to be at risk of further burglaries. She is one of many moms across Michigan who have taken on crime proactively and are making a difference in their communities. Since 1997, around Mother's Day I have recognized and honored Michigan moms whose involvement in crime prevention programs has made their communities safer.
Time and again I have heard from Michigan law enforcement officers that community volunteers are critical for reducing crime. Women across our state have answered that call and helped reduce crime at the local level. They have organized in their neighborhoods, volunteered their time to organizations that help victims, and even gone to court to prosecute criminals.
One mom in the Upper Peninsula has volunteered at a crisis center aiding victims of domestic abuse for over 17 years. She works the "crisis phone" twice a week, fielding calls from victims of domestic violence.
In Southeast Michigan, another crime fighting mom has spent the past decade overseeing prosecutions in the county domestic violence unit, and she helps train law enforcement officials about how to deal with domestic violence cases.
In Northern Michigan, a crime fighting mom has dedicated herself to prosecuting drug crimes. At the same time, she works with people with criminal histories to help them become drug free, so that the cycle of criminal activity can be ended.
Some of these crime fighting moms have launched careers in law enforcement; others volunteer their time. They share a common commitment to keeping their communities safe. As we celebrate Mother's Day this year, I hope you will take a moment to thank a mom who has made a difference in your community.
Let me share one more story. In Kent County, a woman is keeping her community safe as the "Watch Captain" of a neighborhood watch program. She started the program with funds raised from a community yard sale and a bake sale. Currently, she supervises five block captains and 26 neighborhood watch participants, publishing a monthly newsletter to keep in touch with everyone. She has successfully pushed for security cameras and enforcement of juvenile curfews. And, get this: she's not just a crime fighting mom, she's a proud mother of five, grandmother of six and great grandmother of two!
Young or old, man or woman, professional or volunteer, an individual effort can go a long way towards improving our communities. Let these women's commitment and tenacity be an inspiration to all of us this Mother's Day and beyond.