Leadership Profile: IBPO Local 453 Vice President Carolyn Chizer
The deputies of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department in Atlanta protect the people of Fulton County from some of the area’s most hardened criminals. When the deputies need protecting on the job, however, they have their own champion. She’s Carolyn Chizer, vice president of IBPO Local 453, and she doesn’t back down from the challenge.
"I’m going to make the loudest noise!" said Chizer, a Texas native and 19-year veteran of the Fulton County department. "I speak up really quickly in defense of members when I find that the sheriff’s department is violating its own rules."
With Chizer, Local 453 members get not only an effective advocate, but an enthusiastic one. Several weeks after successfully defending a member, she was still excited when describing the case to the IBPO. “I’m really giddy! I had a young woman who was terminated, and I represented her. Her termination was overturned!”
Chizer’s devotion to her union began 19 years ago when she started working for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department. She started her union career as a shop steward and also served as parliamentarian and secretary before becoming vice president.
“I think that we have an excellent union,” said Chizer. “All of our executive board members are good members who lead by example.”
She admits that the job comes with its frustrations, including local members who still fear management too much to talk to the union and the difficulties she encounters in her dual role with the department: union leader and employee. “I wear two different hats,” she explained. “As Deputy Chizer, I try to respect the job and do it to the best of my ability. But as Vice President Chizer, I don’t have a problem fighting for my members, and sometimes managers confuse my two roles there.”
Off-duty, Chizer and her husband Darrin have five children and eight grandchildren, plus a “beautiful” pit-bull puppy named Montana. She also returned to school recently and sings soprano in her church choir. (Carolyn, whatever vitamins you’re taking to do all that, please tell us. We want some!)
The IBPO thanks Local 453 Vice President Carolyn Chizer for her outstanding service to her fellow deputies and the people of Fulton County.