The Daily Citizen
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Every year organizers at the Domestic Violence Conference held annually at Dalton State College recognize individuals who have been instrumental in combating domestic violence and helping its victims heal.
This year, those individuals were Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Rick Swiney and Sue Jordan, a professional who has worked, among other organizations, for the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center.
Swiney, who has spent 38 years in the sheriff’s office, received the Jackie Williams Criminal Justice Award, which is given to a law officer, attorney or other advocate for victims.
Sheriff Scott Chitwood said Swiney has “fostered a professional and victim-oriented focus” by requiring officers to undergo training in Forsyth, as well as in-house training on how to deal with domestic violence. Chitwood said Swiney also spearheaded an initiative to equip officers with digital cameras and got them trained in house to use them to better document instances of domestic violence during their investigations.
Jordan received the Betty Higgins Domestic Violence Victim Advocate Award given to someone who works with and assists victims. Jim Sneary, coordinator of the RESOLV project, said Jordan has “worked tirelessly as a victim advocate for many years,” in many capacities, but especially as a legal advocate for the crisis center. He said she has worked in that capacity to help women navigate the various issues they face in court, including walking them through getting temporary restraining orders.
For their respective parts in working to help victims of domestic violence, The Daily Citizen names Jordan and Swiney Citizens of the Week.
