A new initiative at the Minden Police Department is bringing together law enforcement, community organizations and local donors to provide immediate assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault when they arrive seeking help.
Police Chief Jared McIver said the effort has grown rapidly in recent weeks following the arrival of Detective Heather Butcher, who specializes in domestic violence and sexual assault investigations.
McIver said the need became especially clear after officers recently assisted a mother and her four children who fled an abusive situation and arrived at the police department with virtually nothing.
“One kid was running around in a dirty diaper,” McIver said. “They didn’t have anything.”
The experience prompted department personnel to begin reaching out to community partners and local residents for assistance. Since then, donations have poured into the department, filling a storage room with diapers, children’s items, hygiene products, snacks and other necessities for families in crisis.
“We started making phone calls, and people began asking, ‘How can I help? How can I donate?'” McIver said. “It just kept getting bigger and bigger.”
The department has partnered with numerous organizations, including Minden Medical Center, to provide resources for victims. McIver also announced that Minden City Marshal Dan Weaver plans to donate $10,000 to establish a dedicated fund for domestic violence and sexual assault victims.
According to McIver, the funding will help ensure victims have immediate access to basic necessities while officers and investigators work through often lengthy interviews and begin connecting families with additional services.
The department is also preparing to renovate a room inside police headquarters into a family-friendly space where children can remain occupied while investigators speak with victims.
Plans include a television, toys, tables and chairs designed to create a more welcoming environment during what can be a stressful and emotional process.
“We’re going to make it where the kids have somewhere to play while we’re interviewing mom or talking with everyone involved,” McIver said.
McIver said the department also provides referrals to shelters, advocacy organizations and additional resources to help victims transition into safer situations.
He credited the community’s generosity with making the initiative possible.
“This community has stepped up in a big way,” McIver said. “We’re excited about what this is going to mean for families who come through our doors.”