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Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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Seguin PD gets help for victims
Published November 18, 2009
SEGUIN — If police departments haven’t traditionally been known for their accommodation for crime victims, it’s not difficult to understand, since police agencies are built around their primary job, which is solving crime and catching crooks.
That changed a little bit this week at the Seguin Police Department.
Police Operations Capt. Maureen Watson reports that the police department has created a position for an employee whose job it is to make sure crime victims are fully informed of what help could be available to them — and how to find it.
The post, called Crime Victim Liaison, has been filled by Michelle Tyler.
A Child Protective Services investigator for more than three years, Tyler broadens her work in her new role from advocating for children to advocating for all victims of crime, whether child or adult. The position, which represents a new approach for the SPD, is funded for two years by a federal grant that Watson said is likely to be renewed.
Tyler works as part of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division, Watson said.
“Michelle is a pioneer for us,” Watson said. “She will be establishing a program we hope will continue in this department from now on.”
Tyler will fill a gap that exists in many police departments, Watson said.
“We haven’t really cared for victims as well as we could,” Watson said. “Our focus as police officers is on the crime itself, and we leave it up to various social agencies to take care of victims.”
Tyler’s job is to streamline the process and focus resources on crime victims, Watson said.
The idea is to get help for victims early in the process and not leave them adrift.
“Michelle will be the first contact as far as services is concerned,” Watson said. “Our goal is to get her involved right at the beginning to offer support. One of the things we’ve learned is in a lot of cases, victims don’t feel like they have the support they need to move forward with their case. They also often don’t understand that there’s help available, and Michelle will be filling that gap.
Watson said the department has great expectations for Tyler.
“It’s very intimidating to take a program from its inception and then building it,” Watson said. “Her background and experience will really assist her.”
Tyler said she looked forward to her new role.
“Over at CPS, I was often seen as a bad guy. In this role, I hope I can be a good guy,” Tyler said. “It’s going to be my job to offer services to victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes. I’m very excited because this is new. It’s a challenge, and I like challenges.”
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