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One Survivor's Story
Since the end of 2016, there have been more than 2,000 non-fatal shootings in Jackson County. This is the story of one survivor as she deals with the "harsh realities" of trying to make a full recovery. "I don't know what I felt," says Lisa, who miraculously suffered no critical injuries despite being shot in the abdomen. "A lot was running through my mind—mostly my family. You just don't know at that moment if you're going to be OK." Given all the damage done to her home during the same incident that left with her a bullet wound, Lisa is still dealing with considerable anxiety as she tries to approach life one day—and one breath—at a time. » MORE
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Providing 'Psychological First Aid' & More
Trauma surgeons can describe in graphic detail the bloody horror bullets inflict when they pierce the skin and violate the body. But for individuals fortunate enough to survive a gunshot wound (GSW), recovering physically might be only half the struggle. “To not address the psychological trauma done to survivors puts them at grave risk,” stresses Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. Project RISE, a COMBAT-funded program at Truman Medical Center/University Health, focuses on helping GSW survivors make a full recovery. Since Project RISE was introduced in late 2019, nearly 300 survivors of gun violence have been screened for Post-Trauma Stress Disorder and received Psychological First Aid. » MORE
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Caring For Crime Survivors» MORE“Although a case might never be passed along the to the Prosecutor’s Office for charges, that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything we can do to help these crime victims become crime survivors who are better able to get on with their lives.” The Caring For Crime Survivors program—created by the Prosecutor’s Office and operated in partnership with the AdHoc Group Against Crime, with funding from COMBAT—can provide referrals to counseling and facilitate repairs to property damaged during a crime. AdHoc has many of the doors pierced with bullets transformed into artwork.
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They Found Their CallingCombined, Doris Cannon and Marilyn Layton have more than a half-century of experience as Victim Advocates in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. For both being an Advocate is more than just a job; it’s their calling. Advocates serve as liaisons between the victims—or their surviving family members—and the attorneys in the Prosecutor’s Office. They guide victims through the complexities of the legal process, attend all court hearings with them and can refer them for counseling and other services. “The families I work with have been going through probably the worst experience of their lives," says Cannon, who is assigned to homicide cases. “If I can do anything to help them get through it, I’ve done some good. That’s what keeps me going.”
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Drug Task Force Honored By Peers» MOREThe Jackson County Drug Task Force has earned high praise from its peers in law enforcement yet again. During the organization’s annual conference, the Missouri Narcotic Officers Association (MNOA) named the task force the “Law Enforcement Unit of the Year” for the fifth time in the last 10 years. The Jackson County Drug Task Force, comprised of detectives from 12 local police departments and the Sheriff’s Office, often collaborates with federal authorities on cases involving international drug trafficking cartels seeking to sell methamphetamine, heroin and other dangerous drugs in our community.
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Sharing What You Know Could Make All The Difference
» MORETips can not only solve crimes but also save lives. Don’t let a violent criminal hurt—or kill—someone else. Prevent another person from overdosing because somebody is dealing drugs in your neighborhood. The next person to die might be someone you know… someone you care about… someone you love… While COMBAT no longer receives crime tips, we urge to share what you know or suspect with agencies that can take your information anonymously.
Initiative Focuses On Need For Joint Effort To Reduce Violence In Neighborhoods
This COMBAT initiative brings together school administrators, police officers, elected officials, mental health professionals, social workers, faith-based leaders and concerned citizens to address violence in Jackson County’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.
With a focus on developing a collaborative, comprehensive and coordinated plan in each “hot spot,” STRIVIN’ recognizes that no one individual or single agency can “save a neighborhood.” It takes working together—striving together—to make any neighborhood a safe place to call home.
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