April 23, 2009
A group of Syracuse community members has to joined together with the Syracuse police to help make crimes scenes a less overwhelming atmosphere. Known as the Trauma Response Team, the 24 member group was formed in an effort to help aid the family and friends of victims at crime scenes. The group will be unveiled this morning at the Syracuse Police headquarters. The Syracuse Police Department has acknowledged that it can be difficult for its officers to efficiently perform their job while tending to the needs of the families of the victims at the same time.
The 24 member team went through a four hour training session with Syracuse police officers. Members were shown videos of violent crime scenes so they knew what to expect and also instructed that they must stay behind the yellow caution tape while at the crime scene. The team will work in three different groups. The first group will report to the crime scene when notified by 911 and provide support. The second group will report to the hospital where the victim is transported. The second group members will then answer any questions that the victims family may have and also provide additional support. The third group is responsible for providing any necessary follow-up care for the families such as higher levels of clinical or social support.
The Trauma Response Team should not have any problems taking care of the social aspect of the crime scene. Mostly all of its members have had professional experience in social work. Other members have had experience of losing a family member to a violent crime. Team member Rachel Titus, who serves as coordinator of Alternatives to Domestic Violence Program at Vera House, lost her son, Joseph Tirado, after he was shot May 21, 2005, near Skiddy Park in the city. "Some of us with mothers against gun violence already have been there. As you know, I have lost my son to gun violence so we already know what to do," Titus says.
Jason Dumas
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