News
Black History Month: Alyssa Bodison
Feb 9 2024
She’s a political trailblazer. A breast cancer survivor. A leader in the community.
And a valued member of the Goose Creek Police Department.
Her name is Alyssa Bodison, and we’re excited to share her story as Goose Creek’s Black History Month celebration continues.
Officer Bodison is a School Resource Officer at Stratford High School. She joined the GCPD four years ago after spending over two decades at the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office.
“I grew up in Walterboro,” she said. “My mother was a dispatcher and correctional officer, and I grew up watching her do a job that she loves. I always wanted to be a police officer.”
Her position at the GCPD is a perfect match. “I love kids,” she said. “The fact that I can combine my two loves, law enforcement and kids? I just love being an SRO. I’m able to build a rapport with the students and make a difference with them.”
Officer Bodison helped run a Youth Court program for high school students in Colleton County. Several years ago, she received a visit from a former student. “She is now a solicitor in Georgia,” Officer Bodison said. “It was amazing. I always tell people, If I can reach just one child, I feel like I’ve accomplished something.”
Officer Bodison made history in 2020 by running for Sheriff in Colleton County – the first African American female to seek that office in South Carolina. She views a close loss in 2020 as a learning experience. “I lost the election, but I won because I gained a lot of knowledge,” she said. “I’m coming back in 2024. It’s exciting.”
Another election offers her a win-win scenario: “I have the best of both worlds. If I don’t win, I love my job here in Goose Creek.”
She followed in her mother’s footsteps in another way in 2018. Like her mother, she was diagnosed with breast cancer -- and bravely defeated the disease. A Breast Cancer Survivor plaque on her desk at Stratford is a reminder of her triumph.
As February begins, Officer Bodison says that Black History Month has a special place in her heart. “I love Black History Month,” she said. “On my Facebook page, I do a Black History fact every day … when I’m able to make a difference, I feel like I am Black History.”
In addition to law enforcement, she is involved in Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated. “We serve the majority of Berkeley County,” she said. “We do service projects, and we love giving back to the community.”
Thank you for the visit, Officer Bodison, and keep up the great work!
