"It Was Here That She Found Hope"

It Was Here That She Found Hope

A week ago, the County Times Newspaper released a story titled, “It was here that she found hope.” The story tells of a severely abused victim, who found hope and kindness in St. Mary’s County. With the help of the Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, a protective order was served against her husband, who was very difficult to find.

 “This county…gave me hope that I can see my kids grow up,” Dena Taggart said. “This is the safest I’ve ever felt, in Maryland,”

Taggart said the Family Advocacy Center was key in helping her navigate the process for getting help, and the Sheriff’s Office did more for her than what is expected of  Law Enforcement.

Detective William Raddatz, who met Taggart through the Shop with a Cop Program, gathered volunteer deputies, along with Sheriff Cameron and the 16U baseball team he coaches, and moved Taggart and her family into a new home when she was unable to, due to cancer.

This story is just one of many that describe the warmth that is St. Mary’s County. Our community is caring and compassionate, and although for many their profession brings them into contact with individuals who share the same story as Ms. Taggart, it’s their heart that brings them to do far and above what is expected.

For many professionals in our community, not just Law Enforcement, we live where we work and work where we live. We can all agree; that adds another layer of empathy when working with the public – our neighbors, family, and friends.

Ms. Taggart ended by saying, “This county gave me a big hug and said, “You Matter.”

http://countytimes.somd.com/read/index.php

On behalf of this agency, thank you Guy Leonard and the County Times for recognizing the value in helping Ms. Taggart tell her story. Thank you, Ms. Dena Taggart, for giving hope to individuals in our community who find themselves in your situation. Lastly, thank you to the deputies who volunteered to help her move on their day off from work, the Family Advocacy Center, the Southern Maryland Elite Baseball Team and ServPro of St. Mary’s and Calvert for acknowledging that compassion is often the solution.

Sheriff Cameron, Detective William Raddatz, Southern Maryland Elite Baseball Team, and deputies from the #SMCSO help Ms. Taggart move into a home in St. Mary's County.