SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments) recently held its first-ever COPS for Cops event, a ceremony and reception to honor three local police officers for their outstanding work on behalf of domestic violence victims and their respective departments for their collaborative partnership with SAVE’s COPS (Community Oriented Prevention Services) Advocates.
SAVE Staff, Board Members, guests and volunteers gathered on Thursday, November 21, 2013, at Washington Hospital West to honor Fremont Police Officer Jason Valdes, Hayward Police Officer Daniel Lundberg, and San Leandro Police Officer Jeremy Rocha. The officers were chosen by SAVE COPS Advocates Titania Trujillo and Erika Pacheco for their outstanding level of service, including their compassion and understanding of the dynamics of abusive relationships, their efforts to bring abusers to justice and the extent to which they ensure that victims are aware of alternatives to violence, including referrals to SAVE and assistance with safety planning and protective orders.
SAVE’s COPS Advocates provide police department-based advocacy and support services, including crisis counseling, assistance with temporary restraining order paperwork, and referrals. The majority of COPS clients are referred to the program by police officers; their efforts to connect victims with support and resources are critical to break the cycle of violence. SAVE’s COPS Program is available through the Police Departments of Fremont, Hayward, and San Leandro, with the goal of increasing services to include additional local police agencies. SAVE has provided this community service since 1997; at this time, program funding is provided by the Family Justice Center through an Office on Violence Against Women grant, and the City of Hayward.
In addition to the certificates of appreciation presented to the officers by SAVE, the officers also received certificates of commendation from California State Senator Ellen Corbett, Alameda County Supervisors Richard Valle, Wilma Chan, and Scott Haggerty, and from US Congressman Eric Swalwell.
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Guests and speakers included Fremont Police Chief (Ret.) Craig Steckler, current Fremont Police Chief Richard Lucero, San Leandro Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli, Senator Ellen Corbett, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell, and Alameda County Supervisors Scott Haggerty, Richard Valle, and Wilma Chan. In attendance were the honored officers' family and peers, Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison, Fremont City Councilmembers Suzanne Chan and Raj Salwan, Hayward City Councilmember Mark Salinas, Judge Brad Seligman, and long-time SAVE supporters Sharon and Bill Marshak, and Sybil and John Smith.
For more information about SAVE’s COPS Program, please visit http://save-dv.org/here-to-help/cops-advocates/. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs help, please call SAVE's 24-Hour Hotline at (510) 794-6055.
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SAVE thanks Washington Hospital for its ongoing support, including providing the facilities for this event.
ABOUT SAVE:
SAVE is a non-profit community based organization that has provided free domestic violence prevention and support services to residents of the Tri-Cities, the Bay Area, and beyond for over three decades. SAVE’s innovative support, advocacy, and educational programs gives victims and their families the strength and resources to end the cycle of violence and rebuild their lives. SAVE’s services include our emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, children’s programs and much more. SAVE will assist any victim of domestic violence regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, language spoken, or geographic location.
SAVE is a non -profit 501c (3) organization, Federal Tax ID: 94-2520559
