REPORTER: THE NEW JEFFERSONTOWN
POLICE DEPARTMENT’S VICTIM
SERVICES PROGRAM BEGAN HERE IN
FEBRUARY WITH ONE NEW MEMBER OF
THE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED SOLELY ON
VICTIMS OF CRIMES.
>> SOMEBODY STEPPED IN AND WAS
ABLE TO HELP ME AND SO GIVING
THAT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IS
WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR THE REST
OF MY LIFE.
REPORTER: AND SHE’S DOING JUST
THAT AS THE NEW VICTIMS SERVICES
SPECIALIST AT THE JEFFERSONTOWN
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AMANDA CHAPMAN SAYS SHE’S HELPED
100 VICTIMS OF VARIOUS CRIMES
SINCE SHE STARTED IN FEBRUARY.
>> MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL VICTIMS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS
AND KNOW WHAT SERVICES AND
REDUCE SOME OF THE TRAUMA AND
UNDERSTAND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM SO THAT VICTIMS WILL
FOCUS ON JUST RECOVERING FROM
BEING A VICTIM OF THE TRAUMA AND
NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ALL
THESE OTHER THINGS.
REPORTER: THE NEW VICTIM
SERVICES PROGRAM WAS CREATED BY
MAJOR BRITTNEY GARRETT.
SHE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHILE
RESEARCHING AND LAUNCHING THE
ANGEL PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE
SUFFERING FROM DRUG ADDICTION.
SHE SAYS IT’S TAKEN SEVERAL
YEARS OF HARD WORK AND HELP FROM
OTHER VICTIMS ADVOCATES TO
FINALLY LAUNCH THE PROGRAM IN
JTOWN.
>> GEORGETOWN POLICE, ALEXANDRIA
POLICE WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED
PROGRAMS, LOUISVILLE METRO
VICTIMS SERVICES.
IT WAS A COLLABERATIVE EFFORT
AND WE WOULDN’T BE HERE WITHOUT
THAT COLLABERATIVE EFFORT AND
SUPPORT FROM OTHER VICTIMS
ADVOCATES AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
REPORTER: DURING A TIME WHEN
BUDGETS ARE TIGHT MAJOR GARRETT
HAD TO GET CREATIVE TO FIND
FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE PROGRAM.
SHE APPLIED FOR AND WAS AWARDED
A THREE YEAR FEDERAL GRANT.
IT’S PAYING FOR THE NEW
POSITION, BUT THE DEPARTMENT
STILL NEEDS HELP.
>> WE CAN’T BUY FOOD WITH GRANT
MONEY, WE CAN’T DO THOSE TYPES
OF THINGS, BUT THERE IS A NEED
FOR IT AND WE SAW A LOT OF
OFFICERS YOU KNOW STEPPING UP
WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY AND
PAYING FOR THESE OUT OF THEIR
POCKET.
REPORTER: THAT’S WHY CHAPMAN HAS
LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY CARE CLOSET
AS PART OF THE VICTIM SERVICES
PROGRAM.
TO HELP VICTIMS WHEN THEY NEED
IT MOST AND OFFICERS WHO ARE ON
THE FRONT LINES.
>> I’VE SEEN OFFICERS GO OUT AND
PURCHASE CLOTHING AND FOOD
WITHOUT QUESTION, OUT OF HIS OWN
POCKETS SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET
, SOME OF THAT STUFF ESTABLISHED
SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO TAKE THAT
BURDEN ON BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING
TO DO IT REGARDLESS.
RICK: JTOWN POLICE RECEIVED ITS
FIRST CARE CLOSET DONATION THIS
WEEK, BUT THEY NEED A LOT MORE.
THEY’RE LOOKING FOR DONATIONS OF
GIFT CARDS, ITEMS FOR SMALL
CHILDREN LIKE DIAPERS, WIPES,
FORMULA AND PACK&PLAYS.
TO SEE A FULL LIST OF ITEMS
NEEDED, GO TO WLKY.COM AND CLICK
ON THIS ST
