Behind the Badge
Victims of family violence – whether a spouse, child, parent or grandparent – are often frightened, confused and generally overwhelmed.
Their lives often are in danger and they have no place to go.
They may need a protective order against the abuser but have no clue about how to navigate the legal system.
A new partnership between the Fullerton Police Department and an Orange County nonprofit that helps those who’ve been victimized aims to connect victims with these resources more rapidly.
Patty Saavedra, 31, a domestic violence advocate with Community Service Programs (CSP) Inc., is now stationed at FPD headquarters, working directly with investigators in the Family Crimes Unit.
“My role here is to be a support person, basically a point of contact for victims,” Saavedra said. “I can provide an orientation to the criminal justice system, do crisis intervention and give emergency assistance. Oftentimes, they don’t know about those resources so that is why I’m here.”
Patty Saavedra, Fullerton PD’s new domestic violence advocate.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Based in Santa Ana, CSP began as a program-focused juvenile diversion service more than 40 years ago.
The nonprofit has grown and expanded to include crime victim assistance, shelter services, counseling and programs for at-risk youth.
While CSP works with many law enforcement agencies, only the Fullerton, Santa Ana and Huntington Beach Police Departments, as well as the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, have an in-house domestic violence advocate.
“We are certainly excited,” said Sgt. John Ema, who supervises the Family Crimes Unit. “It gives us another level of service to the community. It shows that we are going to do whatever we can for the victims.”
Once Saavedra connects with the victims, detectives are freed up to focus on cases, the sergeant said.
“You’re not going to turn down that kind of resource,” Ema said.
Saavedra, 31, can find shelter for domestic violence victims, make them aware of their rights, help them file restraining orders, and if a case gets filed, guide them through the court system.
Saavedra was drawn to helping domestic violence victims after seeing family violence within her own community in Anaheim.
“That got me interested in wanting to do more,” said Saavedra, who has been with CSP for four years, three as a domestic violence advocate. “All we know is you call the police and that is kind of it. What comes after that? That is what peaked my curiosity. I wanted to be able to reach my community and make people aware of what resources are out there.”
