"THE GIFT OF PUBLIC SERVICE"

MSA Sheriff's Star 2003 Issue 2

Everyday responsibilities of a Sheriff’s Office deputy include assisting the public, protecting and saving lives, but in performance of those duties, there comes a time when a deputy must also deliver tragic news to loved ones. Never is this an easy task, however, deputies can serve to the best of their abilities when Sheriff’s Offices have a Victim Service Team. An extra support doesn’t make task the any easier, but the deputy can rest assured that the loved ones are not left alone. They are in good hands with two trained members of the Victim Service Team.

The Victim Services Unit consists of a volunteer group of persons dedicated to helping victims survive a crisis or a crime against them by working through the local Sheriff’s Office. This worthwhile program is set up to assist law enforcement and families in a crisis situation by becoming an immediate, short term crisis intervention group.

Victim Service volunteers are available 24 hours a day. After being called or paged through a Communication Center, two volunteers respond to any request for assistance, whether it is homicide, suicide, fatal or natural disasters, natural deaths, and drowning. The Program is designed to not only comfort and help victims, but to make referrals to appropriate agencies and services, as a go-between for victims, their families and on-scene officials.

Once a Victim Service volunteer responds to an accident scene, they familiarize themselves with the surroundings in order to better answer questions from the victim’s families pertaining to the situation. In situations where there is a death, volunteers will accompany deputies to the residence. Once an officer makes the death notification, volunteers remain with the family and help contact other family members, neighbors, friends or clergy, and make initial contacts with the funeral home.

The volunteers remain with the family until an adequate support group is in place.

Sometimes they are able to answer questions the family is too upset or intimidated to ask the deputy. Volunteers may also go to the hospital with the family, go to court, change locks on doors, rock a child to sleep, stay and make coffee, hold hands or give hugs. No task is too great when supporting a victim.

By having the Victim Service volunteers present, officers are able to return to the scene, perform follow-up, or complete a report. The program is designed to relieve some of the emotional stress from the officer dealing with a family in crisis and provide emotional support for the families and victims.

According to Renae Larsen, Victim Service Coordinator for Clinton County, most of the members of the Clinton County team have experienced some kind of tragic event in their own lives and know how very important it is to have someone there for the victims. "They never hesitate to respond, no matter what kind of call it is," Larsen said.

Advocates do not to interfere with the crime scenes investigations, nor are they witnesses or responsible for gathering information. They are only a comfort to the victim. Volunteers are equipped with a jacket, shirt, and identification card distinguishing them as members of the Sheriff’s Office Victim Service Unit. Volunteers make initial contact with victims and families and then follow-up with a phone call. They are not counselors and are not involved in long-term relationships.

A cross-section of community members who have been recruited through fire departments, churches, and various organizations make up the Victim Service Units. A 20-hour training session with the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association is required. In addition, there are regular, monthly meetings for debriefings, as well as continuous training for the advocates.

While Victim Service volunteers are only a momentary support system, they make certain that victims have the assistance and help they need for long-term care. Volunteers cannot heal victims; they cannot take the crisis away, but they are ready to help victims prepare for the next step.