The Cayuga County Deputy Sheriffs Benevolent Association donated $30,000 on April 9, to help the growing Cayuga County Child Advocacy Center build a state of the art interrogation room.
The advocacy center, which is looking for a building to call home, received the largest donation in the benevolent fund's 30-year history, sheriff's detective Sgt. Frederick Cornelius said.
New York state legislation required every county in the state to build a center dedicated to helping sexually or physically abused children. These centers are supposed to reduce the trauma that victims endure during the investigation process and get them the medical and mental help they need, all in one location.
The benevolent association, which consists of all of the employees who work for the sheriff's department, was created to foster a positive relationship with the public. When making a donation, Cornelius said the association often considers what kind of impact the donation will have on the community and on law enforcement
“We have been looking for a project that would significantly impact the community and law enforcement Cornelius said. ”The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is just that. It will assist law enforcement in conducting their investigation and offer services to victims. It will provide one stop for medical treatment, mental health and the investigation.“
Rhonda Zahn CAC director, said the donation would be used to create an interrogation room that would allow a child to feel safe and comfortable while investigators collect evidence.
“We requested to have the bulk of the donation put into the interview rooms because that is where the bulk of our investigations take place,” Cornelius said. “We are going to help design the facility and make it state of the art.”
Plans for the interview room call for a monitoring system and a communication system. The child would be in the room with one interrogator while the rest of the investigators with law enforcement either watch through a one-way mirror or through the monitoring system. Investigators would be able to communicate with the interviewer through a wireless ear-piece.
In addition to the benevolent association, Cornelius is a member of Cayuga County's Multi Disciplinary Team. The MDT is a collaboration of law enforcement, health services, social services and other agencies that assist sexually or physically abused children. As a member of the MDT, Cornelius has been responsible for conducting child abuse investigations.
While the CAC is still in the planning stages, Zahn said the donation could not come at a better time. The CAC had been conducting its Capital Campaign to raise funds to renovate a building into a child center. The campaign has raised $14,000 for medical equipment, $7,500 for the information technology infrastructure and $3,000 for architectural and engineering studies.
The $30,000 was donated to match funds the CAC's campaign had already collected or had been pledged.
“This is a resource the community really needs,” Cornelius said. “It's going to be beneficial in so many ways for both investigators and the community.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
New York state legislation required every county in the state to build a center dedicated to helping sexually or physically abused children. These centers are supposed to reduce the trauma that victims endure during the investigation process and get them the medical and mental help they need, all in one location.
The benevolent association, which consists of all of the employees who work for the sheriff's department, was created to foster a positive relationship with the public. When making a donation, Cornelius said the association often considers what kind of impact the donation will have on the community and on law enforcement
“We have been looking for a project that would significantly impact the community and law enforcement Cornelius said. ”The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is just that. It will assist law enforcement in conducting their investigation and offer services to victims. It will provide one stop for medical treatment, mental health and the investigation.“
Rhonda Zahn CAC director, said the donation would be used to create an interrogation room that would allow a child to feel safe and comfortable while investigators collect evidence.
“We requested to have the bulk of the donation put into the interview rooms because that is where the bulk of our investigations take place,” Cornelius said. “We are going to help design the facility and make it state of the art.”
Plans for the interview room call for a monitoring system and a communication system. The child would be in the room with one interrogator while the rest of the investigators with law enforcement either watch through a one-way mirror or through the monitoring system. Investigators would be able to communicate with the interviewer through a wireless ear-piece.
In addition to the benevolent association, Cornelius is a member of Cayuga County's Multi Disciplinary Team. The MDT is a collaboration of law enforcement, health services, social services and other agencies that assist sexually or physically abused children. As a member of the MDT, Cornelius has been responsible for conducting child abuse investigations.
While the CAC is still in the planning stages, Zahn said the donation could not come at a better time. The CAC had been conducting its Capital Campaign to raise funds to renovate a building into a child center. The campaign has raised $14,000 for medical equipment, $7,500 for the information technology infrastructure and $3,000 for architectural and engineering studies.
The $30,000 was donated to match funds the CAC's campaign had already collected or had been pledged.
“This is a resource the community really needs,” Cornelius said. “It's going to be beneficial in so many ways for both investigators and the community.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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