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Director Copresents NSA Crime Victim Services Award — 2007—
The Pinal County, Arizona, Sheriff's Office is the 2007 recipient of the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) Crime Victim Services Award. The award, which recognizes "outstanding achievement by a Sheriff's Office in support of victims," is funded by the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, and administered by NSA's Committee on Crime Victim Services. It was formally presented by Sheriff Craig Webre, Chair of the Committee and 2007-2008 NSA President; Sheriff Ted G. Kamatchus, 2006-2007 NSA President; Director John W. Gillis, Office for Victims of Crime, at a plenary session during the 2007 NSA Annual Conference. Accepting the award on behalf of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office was Sheriff Christopher Vasquez. In 2004, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, under the leadership of Sheriff Vasquez, established a Victim Services Unit and a Volunteer Services Program within the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. Approximately 20 volunteers work in the Victim Services Unit, supporting deputies and victims through on-call, crisis response to the crime scene or hospital, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The volunteers provide grief and loss intervention, assistance to victims in meeting their basic needs, referrals to other helping organizations and agencies, transportation, and follow-up contact. They also accompany deputies for death notifications. |
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