Page 26 - March 2022

My View: A history-maker
Officer Carolynn Crump
Always looking out for fellow officers
Suzette M. Foster has become a groundbreaking Chicago Police Officer.
But not because she has become the Department’s first African American fe- male to work as an in-car camera (ICC) field technician. As an expert in ICCs, she believes that they are a valuable tool that helps officers dispel any false allegations against their actions, driving or where- abouts. Without ICCs, there could be more sustained false allegations against the police.
We have seen many women in this Department ascend to positions where they can be great educators for fellow officers and provide training that serves and protects them. Suzette is a certified ICC instructor and taught at the acad- emy in 2008. She helped create lesson plans and handouts and prepared tests for the course. She ensured that Depart- ment members were effectively trained on the Coban system, including hands- on training.
In 2016, Officer Foster became the first Black female ICC field technician who repairs the ICC system. She is a great example of the many women of our De- partment who have dedicated their lives to service.
Born and raised in Chicago Heights as the fourth of five children, Suzette gradu- ated from Rich Central High School. She then enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1989 as a military police officer based in Rosemont. While in the military, she learned and applied the laws and poli- cies of the U.S. Army, including military combat readiness, light-to-heavy weap- ons training with preventive and restor- ative maintenance, and hand-to-hand combat.
Officer Foster was also deployed to Operation Desert Storm for active duty. There she performed surveillance, pe- rimeter security and reconnaissance missions of multiple sites to ensure the safety of military personnel and civilians. She also secured, processed and main- tained order among the prisoners of war according to the policies of the U.S. mil- itary.
She was promoted to sergeant and su- pervised soldiers during organized train-
26 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2022
Suzette Foster (left) works a crime scene.
Officer Foster when she came on the Depart- ment.
Suzette Foster (left) with officers from the Summer Bike Unit.
ing exercises for combat readiness and military support missions. During this time, she taught blocks of instruction in class and field settings and assessed sol- diers’ ability to apply basic skills in prac- tical exercises while encouraging team- work among soldiers.
After being honorably discharged, she joined the Chicago Police Department. While a police officer, she pursued her bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Calumet College of Saint Joseph. She used that to help those who couldn’t help themselves as she worked in 003, 002, the Summer Bike Detail in the 20th and 21st Districts, Unit 124 Education and Training Division and Unit 133 Field Technology Unit.
As we can see by how much Officer Foster has accomplished, she represents the fearless, adventurous, motivated,
relentless spirit of the women of this Department. And that’s not just about her love of trying nachos whenever she encounters good ones. Or her passion for off-the-job recreation like skydiv- ing, parasailing, hang gliding, kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, archery, motor- cycling and bicycling.
Currently, Officer Foster is forming a nonprofit organization to provide veter- ans and law enforcement officers diag- nosed with PTSD with information and resources. And she is a proud mother of 22-year-old Jakari, who is a student at Al- corn State University.
But above all, I think the most im- portant lesson Officer Suzette M. Foster teaches us is to have faith. As a woman of faith and a police officer, sometimes faith is your most important asset.