March 2, 2009
Contact: Sgt. Tom Bruce – PIO
Phone No.: (714) 229-6619
(714) 686-1464 (cell)
Cypress Police Partner With Crime Survivors, Inc.
As part of the police department’s ongoing effort to enhance community services, the police department has partnered with a local victim advocacy group known as Crime Survivors, Inc. Crime Survivors, Inc., based out of Irvine, California, is a non-profit, victim advocacy group that is committed to serving the community by being an advocate and resource for crime victims and their families. Crime Survivors founder and CEO Patricia Wenskunas, a victim of a violent crime herself years ago, established the non-profit organization to work in the community to make victims’ rights a top priority. Crime Survivors facilitate communication and cooperation across various public service, government and non-profit organizations to ensure that victims’ rights are understood, and that the services victims are entitled to are received. Crime Survivors’ vision is for victims of crime to recover from their experience mentally, physically, emotionally and financially, by receiving respect, support and protection from law enforcement, the judicial system and the community.
As part of the partnership, Crime Survivors provides police agencies with child and adult “emergency kits” which are distributed by officers to crime victims. The kits include resource guides, a phone card, toiletries, a DVD explaining the legal system, a mini first aid kit and other items a victim may find useful in the first 72 hours after a crime has occurred. Officers will carry these “emergency kits” in their police vehicles and distribute them when appropriate.
Police Chief Mark Yokoyama said, “Victims are often times forgotten in everyone’s attempt to put offender’s in jail. We cannot forget the everlasting impacts suffered by crime victims. Crime Survivor’s is the missing link for us to help crime victims and be true to our mission to protect and serve.”
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Media inquires should be directed to Sergeant Tom Bruce at (714) 229-6619 or via email at [email protected]. Press releases are distributed via a mass notification email list as well as being posted on our web site. Postings to the web site are sometimes delayed due to weekend or after hour releases. If not already on the email roster, you can register to receive the press releases by going to http://www.ci.cypress.ca.us/police/press_releases/press_releases.html. It is the goal of the Cypress Police Department to provide prompt and accurate information to the public via the multitude of media outlets.
Tom Bruce – Sergeant
Public Information Officer
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