BY ALAYSHA MAPLE alaysha@theitem.com
In nature, the journey of a butterfly - from a humble caterpillar inching along the ground to a cocooned chrysalis to the emergence of a vibrant winged creature - mirrors the transformation that comes with growth and change.
Amanda Wiley's journey to senior victim advocate with Sumter Police Department is a story of such metamorphosis. Like her favorite animal, the butterfly, Wiley's evolution was driven by compassion and her unwavering commitment to helping others.
Born and raised in Columbia, Wiley "married Sumter" through her husband and extended family. From a young age, she valued hard work, shown through her long tenures at various jobs throughout her teenage years and early adulthood. It would be years down the road when she found her true calling.
After more than a decade working at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Camden - she still treasures the friendships and memories she made during her tenure - Wiley felt a pull to return to school and finish her undergraduate degree started years earlier at Winthrop University. On her 30th birthday, she enrolled in USC Sumter to complete her degree in interdisciplinary studies, with a concentration in psychology and sociology. It was pivotal moment in her life, one that would set the stage for her future as a victim advocate, unbeknownst to her.
"I [went] to a funeral of a family member, and I was reminded that my family was a lot of teachers and preachers and people who made an impact on their community at this time. I was working at Blue Cross Blue Shield, and I loved it; I loved it, I really did," she expressed. "But I felt like I could do more. I wanted to do more."
Her passion for understanding human behavior and her innate empathy led her to pursue a master's degree in professional counseling. It was during this time her sister-in-law reached out to their cousin and former Sumter County Sheriff's Office Victim Advocate Barbara Jean Wiley asking if a victim advocate job would be a good fit for Wiley to gain experience in her field of study, to which the fellow Wiley agreed.
Wiley remembered the day as if it were yesterday: her walking into the old Sumter Police Department on Harvin Street, right up to the front desk, to ask for an application. "City or county?" she recalled the officer questioned. Unaware of how Sumter operated compared to the quaint town of Camden, she laughed, thinking of how young Wiley of that time only knew where the library and Walmart were located in the "big" city of Sumter she stuttered out an "I don't know." She would know soon enough.
Wiley's natural compassion and skills acquired through her education made her a perfect fit for the police department's victim advocate position, despite initially knowing little about the role. During the past 13 years, Wiley became an integral part of the police department, providing support and guidance to victims during the most difficult time of their lives. Her lack of formal criminal justice background served as an advantage, she said, allowing her to approach her work with a fresh perspective and a deep sense of empathy. Her role as a victim advocate is crucial, not only in helping navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system but also providing emotional support and resources during a time of crisis. She is often called upon "like an officer" would be, department officials say, responding to situations where her presence can make a significant difference in someone's life. She temporarily dons the uniform as a reserve officer, responding to calls alongside her sisters and brothers in blue.
"I always remember how I would need someone to be the way I try to be with me if I was on the other side because I would have no clue," she said. "Learning about it from the inside helps me be able to articulate it to other people so that it makes sense because it's not 'CSI,' it's not 'Law & Order,' it's life, and we're here."
"Regardless of where we are in the process, I really do stand by people won't forget what you said, what you did. They will remember how you made them feel. You need to be better after you leave me, not made to feel worse."
Trauma, Wiley knows, is deeply personal and unique to each individual. She considered it a privilege to be allowed into someone's life during such a vulnerable time.
"[They] don't know me, so for [them] to allow me to stand beside [them], to just be present with [them] in this moment is huge, and I don't take that for granted," she said.
Being in the moment is a skill Wiley has spent years improving, both professionally and personally. Outside of work, she is just as dedicated to her family and community. She is heavily involved in her church, serving as the minister of music, and enjoys the bright lights at Sumter Little Theatre where she has graced roles as Morticia in "The Addams Family Musical" and stunned audiences with her vocals in "Mood 14," the theater's cabaret show. She also actively serves in several organizations that support victims of crime and promote community safety, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Victim Advocates as Pee Dee regional assistant director and Sumter County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.
Her love of music, her faith and her community provide a much-needed balance to the emotional demands of her job, allowing her to pour into others while also replenishing her own spirit.
"At the end of the day, if God forbid something else happens, I don't want you to hesitate to make that phone call," Wiley said. "In the word, it says, one person plants, one person waters [and] God gets the increase. I'm just doing my part, I'm really just doing my part."
