The men and women volunteering with the Victim Assistance Unit at the Lone Tree Police Department share their stories, and why others should consider volunteering their time as Victim Advocates.
Being a Lone Tree Police Department Victim Advocate means a lot of things. It means being trained to help others through crisis. It means providing victims of crime support services, resources, and crisis intervention at a time when it is most needed. But maybe most importantly, it means giving back to your community through empathy and kindness.
With a training opportunity around the corner and the Victim Assistance Unit looking for volunteers, we decided to talk with a few of our amazing volunteers to better understand what drives someone to become a Victim Advocate. We would like to thank Lois Books, Kyleen Hinojos, and Stephanie Dickens for speaking with us about their experiences!
Question: What initially made you interested in serving as a Victim Advocate and how long have you been serving as a volunteer with the department?
Lois Books: I have been at Lone Tree for six years, but have volunteered for several different victim service organizations through the years. One of my favorite things to do is sit with someone, hear their story, and ask how things are going. This program is a continuation of that work.
Kyleen Hinojos: After our family received valuable services from the Douglas County Community Response Team (CRT), my daughter and I decided to become Victim Advocates to help pay it forward. I have been volunteering with Lone Tree for more than 5 years.
Stephanie Dickens: I’ve served with LT since 2020, and was a VA with Denver for a few years before that. I wanted to become a Victim Advocate to help those in need. Giving back to the community that I’ve been a part of for so many years is mutually beneficial and I’m proud of the work that I do as a Victim Advocate.
Question: What have you found to be the most rewarding or fulfilling aspect of service as a VA volunteer?
Lois: I am proud to be a part of the Police community and am happily available to help the officers as requested. It is fulfilling to be needed, to know we can assist and then to be able to respond.
Kyleen: It’s rewarding to know I have the ability to effectively step into crisis situations and be a comforting and stable resource for victims when they are in need.
Stephanie: Most of the people we encounter are going through a situation that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. Our job as Victim Advocates is to help them start to process the situation, and give them a path forward with next steps. Going through a traumatic experience leaves most people feeling like they have no idea what to do or where to go next. It is personally rewarding for me to be able to provide a path forward for them so that they don’t feel totally lost.
Question: Can you describe how you feel when you help a victim through a tough situation? What does that process look like for you?
Lois: It’s exhilarating when Dispatch calls, and you get an adrenaline rush as you go on scene. It’s humbling to be at someone’s home or at the hospital, hoping I will be and say what the victim or family needs at one of the worst moments of their lives.
Kyleen: After helping a victim through a tough situation, I know in my heart that there is no better way that my time could have been spent than by helping that person during their time of crisis. The process involves me being prepared through the proper training which has given me the knowledge to know what resources are appropriate to provide the victim with for specific circumstances. I let the victim know that how they are feeling is understandable and I help them deal with the fear of the unknown future by explaining what will be happening next for them and ways that they can use resources and begin to heal.
Stephanie: When I help a victim through a tough situation, it makes me feel grateful that we have the resources and support available for our community in their time of need. It makes me feel like I am truly making a difference in the lives of our community. There’s no script for being a Victim Advocate; every situation is different, and my role is to be quick on my feet to provide the best support for the victim.
Question: Lastly, If someone was thinking about applying to be a Victim Advocate volunteer, what is something you say to encourage them?
Lois: Please come along and join us! You will not be alone. You will be prepared because the training is exceptional. We are simply being Present for a short time. We are not rescuing or saving anyone; we are not changing anything. We are there to listen and give comfort. The real work is with the staff follow up as they continue to stay in touch and provide resources and services. Please consider your gifts to share with the program, you can do this!
Kyleen: If you have compassion for other people, being a Victim Advocate volunteer is a generous way to help your fellow humanity by being there for them in unexpected times of crisis; A Victim Advocates gift of time, caring and attention can be priceless to victims in need.
Stephanie: I would encourage folks who are passionate about helping others to think about applying. This is a difficult role, and it requires a person who is empathetic, but can keep composure to be a steady resource for the victim.
Become an LTPD Victim Advocate
The Victim Assistance Unit with the Lone Tree Police Department is looking for some dedicated volunteers who want to make a big difference in the community. If these three incredible women have inspired you to make a difference in the community, visit cityoflonetree.com/victim-services to learn more or email Jennifer Roger-Flynn at [email protected].