GREENFIELD — With the flourish of pen, they made a promise: that every child who passed into their agency’s care will be treated with the same compassion and understanding; that they’d utilize the same center — even though it has yet to open its doors.
Leaders of local law enforcement came together this week in a show of support for Hancock County’s future child advocacy center, laying the investigative foundation on which the center will be built, officials said.
Sitting around a table at the Greenfield Police Department, the chiefs of Hancock County’s six police departments, the sheriff and the prosecutor signed an official memorandum of understanding, which outlined a commitment to bring all young crime victims to the center, called Zoey’s Place, once it opens.
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Currently, kids who come forward about such offenses are interviewed in police departments, where guns and badges can be intimidating; or the principal’s office of their school, where the “bad kids” go; or in cold and sterile emergency rooms, where it can be hard to really open up about what has happened to them.
Zoey’s Place — named in memory of Greenfield’s Zoey Wagoner, whose death was ruled a homicide in 2015 — will give children a safe and comfortable location to talk about the abuse or neglect they’ve suffered.
Hancock County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bridget Foy, who serves as the president of the Zoey’s Place board of directors, read the agreement aloud Thursday afternoon before her uniformed peers. By signing the document, each agency was promising to reduce the trauma a child might face during a criminal investigation, to seek justice for that child and to foster hope and healing once the investigation has come to a close.
At a child advocacy center, a trained forensic interviewer — not a law enforcement officer — speaks with the child about what has happened to them.
The child’s conversation with an interviewer is captured by surveillance cameras and broadcast into another room in the building, where police, prosecutors and caseworkers from the Indiana Department of Child Services can watch the interview live, making notes and relaying questions back to the interviewer.
This ensures a child is interviewed about criminal allegations just once, minimizing any fear or discomfort they might have.
Hancock County has already been working under this model as much as possible with local child abuse cases. Opening Zoey’s Place will be the final piece of the puzzle because it would ensure law enforcement has one common, comfortable place to bring kids for interviews, Foy said.
Foy hopes the memorandum of understanding serves as a further sign to the community that Zoey’s Place will be a reality with enough community support. At this point, the center’s board is fundraising in hopes of securing premises and enough money to pay a staff.
They recently got a big boost in being awarded a $25,000 grant from State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist program. This process required community members to vote on the cause they believed should be funded by State Farm Insurance. Zoey’s Place prevailed among the 40 grant recipients out of 200 finalists around the country.
Now, more groups are jumping on the bandwagon in support of Zoey’s Place.
McCordsville Police Department Chief Harold Rodgers told his colleagues that his officers have planned a No Shave November fundraiser to benefit Zoey’s Place — that’s how dedicated the members of his department are to furthering this cause.
The McCordsville officers — who aren’t usually allowed to have more than a mustache — will pay $50 each to grow out their facial hair. If the 15 men on the department participate, the fundraiser should net at least $750.
Rodgers also thanked Foy and the other center board members for selecting Zoey’s Place as the name of the future center.
Zoey’s death impacted many, especially the police who investigated the crime, Rodgers said. Zoey, 1, died three years ago after a short life marred by physical abuse, an autopsy revealed; her parents are serving lengthy prison sentences for their involvement.
“That child touched so many people in this room,” he said.
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A bowling event to benefit Hancock County’s future child advocacy center, Zoey’s Place, will take place from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 4 at Strike Force Lanes, 1539 W. Main St., in Greenfield.
Bowlers can participate in teams of four or six; those who sign up individually will be placed in groups.
Raffles and silent auctions will take place throughout the afternoon. Money raised at the event will be used to fund a location, equipment and staff for Zoey’s Place.
Those who pre-register at bowlforzoey2018.eventzilla.net can participate for $20; registration at the event is $25. The fee includes shoes and a lane.
For more information, contact Bridget Foy at [email protected].
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