Friday, August 2, 2019

National Night Out: Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships


National Night Out: Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships

By The Elk Grove Police Department


Since 1984, National Night Out has been an annual community-building campaign promoting police-community partnerships. In most states, National Night Out is held on the first Tuesday in August and consists of block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and much more. The goal of National Night Out is to strengthen relationships between neighbors and law enforcement and provide an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Law enforcement agencies like the Elk Grove Police Department, understand that stronger relationships with the community help to create safer lives for us all.

Elk Grove Police Department has taken an innovative approach to improving thing in their city. In January 2014, the City of Elk Grove received a grant from the Office on Violence Against Women to fund a full-time advocate position. The city partnered with WEAVE to provide victim services to individuals in Elk Grove. The advocate assists victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Clients can receive crisis counseling, emotional support, long-term or short-term case management, accompaniment, advocacy and connections to other community resources, such as CalVCB.  The advocate provides training to professionals in the community including EGPD officers. They also ride along with officers and are called out to scenes after a domestic violence incident. The advocate wants each client to know there are resources available and they can receive support when they are ready.

Law enforcement agencies play a vital role in connecting victims to services like CalVCB. Law enforcement officials are often there during some of the worst times in a victim’s life and want to make sure that victims can get the help that they need. By referring victims and loved ones to CalVCB, law enforcement officials can help  them access lifesaving services such as relocation, mental health benefits and more.

The California Victim Compensation Board is dedicated to providing financial assistance for many crime-related expenses. Victims who suffer physical injury, threat of physical injury or emotional injury as a direct result of a violent crime may qualify for assistance. To learn more visit: https://victims.ca.gov/.