Abraham Charles Sussman

As it must to all men and women, death came to Abe Sussman on September 4, 2015, at the age of 92. Mr. Sussman was born in Philadelphia, Penn., on May 26, 1923, of Russian-Jewish parents, Issac and Ida Sussman, who ran a mom and pop food store in Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Sussman volunteered for service with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and served honorably during the years of 1943 and 1944, receiving the rank of Corporal. Mr. Sussman returned to Philadelphia after being honorably discharged and in 1955, joined the unarmed and unpaid Philadelphia Police Reserve Force, serving actively in uniform guarding churches and doing street patrols for 40 months, until October, 1958, when he retired from the force in order to wage a one man letter writing campaign which resulted in two Federal Laws, and in 1961 & 1962 designating May 15th Annually as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Mr. Sussman has been honored by the National Fraternal Order of Police, by the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), by various Police agencies and associations, the California Legislature, the Board of Supervisors of Sacramento County, and the City Council of Sacramento. Friends are invited to attend a cryptside Service at Odd Fellows Lawn Cemetery, 2720 Riverside Blvd., Friday, September 11, at 2:00 PM. http://www.abc10.com/story/news/local/elk-grove/2015/09/12/gone-but-not-forgotten-former-police-officer-laid-rest-day-heroes/72154804/