Filing a community void, Bibb County program will help violent crime victims. Here’s how
Sylvia Rose-Brown says a new program to help victims of violent crime in Macon-Bibb County is a step in the right direction.
On Nov. 26, her husband, Brian Matthew Brown, was shot to death in the 100 block of Lokchapee Landing in their north Macon neighborhood. Last week, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 16-year-old male juvenile as a person of interest for questioning in the murder.
In the hours that followed his murder, Sylvia Brown was left overwhelmed and shocked. She later would speak at a County Commission meeting, sparking a call to action for real-time support for family and friends dealing with the violent death of a loved one in the immediate aftermath.
During the meeting, Brown described her anguish and frustration, saying the county should be doing more.
“The night of my husband’s murder I sat on a curb and watched in shock as firefighters washed away his blood,” she said. “We shouldn’t feel like we have to step up and take the responsibility of protecting our citizens in our community. We are not officers, and as taxpayers, it is your job to make sure people are hired to protect us.”
In response, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office recently announced in January the launch of a new Survivor Care Project, a support initiative that aims to offer support and comfort to families who have experienced a loss due to violence.
The program will allow law enforcement to focus on the crime in question while trained counselors lend support to the victims who violently lost someone.
An official launch date has not yet been announced.
“Currently, we have wrap-around services from the Victims’ Advocate group that reached out to me in the days following the loss of my husband,” Brown said. “They informed me of services and support available to help me in the months following this tragedy.
“However, during the actual incident, I felt like no one was there to support me or even tell me what would happen next,” she said. “The people involved with investigating the crime are experts at their jobs and they are focused on the crime itself rather than those affected by the crime.”
The initiative will consist of professional counselors, victim advocates and trained volunteers, including Brown, who will assist in supporting families and guiding them through the next steps, Brown said.
People associated with the Survivor Care Project will come to the crime scene and focus on aiding families during the initial law enforcement response. Survivor Care Project representatives will include mental health professionals , victims’ advocates, and other caring individuals.
Navigating the agony of crime
The Survivor Care Project will help families identify ways to navigate the crucial next steps after the death of a loved one and will identify resources that will help them further.
Brown said she met with several officials and felt her willingness to start the conversation helped lead to action.
“I feel like my public plea for a framework of support to the Macon-Bibb Board of Commissioners, Sheriff David Davis, and Mayor (Lester) Miller sparked additional conversations throughout our community,” she said. “My story probably resonated with people because we have all suffered from the loss of a loved one.
“Sheriff David Davis, Lieutenant Howard, Sergeant Williams, Victim’s Advocate, Amanda Grimsley; Matt’s father, Larry Brown; Southern Center for Choice Theory Mental Health counselors, Gloria Cisse and Andrea Cooke, and myself met and discussed from various perspectives what was needed,” Brown said. “I think it was important to develop the initiative from various lenses: family of the victim, mental health counselors, advocates, and the Sheriff’s Department.”
Miller said the program was much-needed in the community and a positive first step.
“A way to support people and families in their time of loss was greatly needed, and I appreciate the sheriff for putting together this new outreach effort,” he said. “Anything we can do for our friends and neighbors shows the type of community we are, one of love and caring.”
In a press release announcing the program, Davis said he was grateful to Brown for her courage to speak publicly.
“The first few hours in the aftermath of tragedy are crucial to bring needed support to affected individuals,” he said. “The Survivor Care Project will fill a void that until now had been unfilled.
“I am grateful to Dr. Sylvia Rose Brown for her courage to speak of her experience and to the Southern Center for Choice Theory for their partnership to make this initiative an important part of the sheriff’s office response options.”
The Southern Center for Choice Theory is an outreach service that provides clients mental-health care It is located at 411 Holt Ave. in Macon and can be reached at 478-741-1268.
“The Southern Center for Choice Theory’s work in the community has centered around addressing the root causes of trauma. When we saw the impassioned comments from Dr. Brown, we knew there was an opportunity to meet the need that she addressed. The Sheriff and his office, including the victim advocate, immediately agreed that this was something we, as a community, could address, and the outcome is the Survivor Care Project! Our agency is ready to support and look forward to engaging the community with this new effort.” said Andrea Cooke, development director.
Brown said although the county initiative is in its infancy stage, it is expected to grow through community feedback.
“The most-important thing is to take the first step and put the project into action,” she said. “We expect the initiative to grow and develop as we receive feedback from the community.
“This project shows that we all have the opportunity to have our voices heard,” she said. “We just have to be willing to take the initial first step of faith and be vulnerable enough to share our story.”
This story was originally published February 7, 2024 at 6:00 AM.