Lethbridge Police Service’s Victim/Witness Services program is currently accepting applications for new volunteer Crisis Support Workers.
Volunteer Crisis Support Workers work alongside police to aid victims and witnesses of crime to navigate the acute challenges of their experiences, the criminal justice process, and help open doors to access community resources.
While there’s no specific experience required, the unit is seeking individuals 18 or over, have a clear criminal record, and a desire to provide acute crisis care to people from all walks of life who’ve been victims of crime, trauma, or tragedy.
Volunteer Crisis Support Workers receive extensive training and ongoing learning opportunities to provide trauma-informed, client-centred care on scene and over the phone.
Victim/Witness Services Manager Catherine Pooley said this is a critical role at LPS, as volunteer Crisis Support Workers attend scenes and offer follow-up support for victims of crime and witnesses of trauma and tragedy.
According to Pooley, the team typically has close to 65 volunteers. “Right now, we’re looking to bring about 20 more people on board to be able to provide the 24/7 coverage we do.”
The work volunteers do is unquestionably the backbone of the unit, noted Pooley. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to support the community the way we do.”
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who’s thinking they might like to be a police officer, a counsellor, or work in the human services field.
“You’re going to get an opportunity to see behind the curtain in the police world, but also be able to walk alongside members of our community on some of their darkest days. We know our faces tend to disappear in the long run, but we know too the difference our volunteers are making and the compassion they’re sharing is left with someone for years well past after the few moments we get to spend with them,” Pooley shared. “It’s an indelible mark our volunteers make on the community.”
The volunteer role consists of two 12-hour shifts a month.
Pooley noted within those 12-hour shifts, volunteers aren’t in the office the whole time. “You’re on call if a crisis comes up and someone requires your support. In the same way the police are ready to respond when a call comes in, our volunteers are ready to jump out into the community and make sure someone is not navigating those dangerous or scary moments alone.”
“They’re there to be able to walk alongside, make sure you understand what’s happening, and help connect to the right resources, so each individual’s needs are met in a really trauma-informed way,” Pooley added.
Pooley explained the very basis of trauma-informed care is recognizing what’s impactful for someone, and the individual affected gets to make decisions for themselves. “When we know support is required, our officers are fantastic at calling out our team. We’re able to be on scene in the time of an emergency, and our team will work alongside them through the rest of the criminal justice process.”
“From a mischief, all the way to a homicide. We could be involved in any of those kinds of files. We want to make sure when someone is struggling, they’re not struggling alone. The most common calls we go to right now are domestic violence, unfortunately. We do a lot of assaults, and sudden deaths,” Pooley said.
Right now, volunteers range in age from 18 to 74.
“We’ve got a lot of diversity on our team, in ages, cultures, and genders. There’s a space for everyone on our team,” added Pooley.
Cruiser, the facility dog from Dogs with Wings, has also worked with victims in the community over the past two years.
“He spends some time on the stand when people are testifying (in court). He can be in interviews when they’re going through those moments, and he also looks after our teams — our police service and our volunteers,” Pooley noted.
