Los Alamos County Councilor Katrina Schmidt presents Sgt. Chris Ross with a proclamation at Tuesday’s Council meeting recognizing April 7-13 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Councilor Katrina Schmidt presented Sgt. Chris Ross with a proclamation during Tuesday night’s regular council meeting recognizing April 7-13 as Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

The proclamation:

WHEREAS: President Ronald Reagan first proclaimed “Victim’s Rights Week” in 1981, observing that “we need a renewed emphasis on, and an enhanced sensitivity to, the rights of victims” – a challenge that we still face today; and

WHEREAS: Only 45 percent of serious violent crimes and 36 percent of property crimes were reported to police nationwide in 2017, and only eight percent of those who were a victim of violent crime accessed assistance from a victim service agency; and

WHEREAS: This year, Crime Victims’ Rights Week will take place April 7 – 13, and it is an important time to honor our past and create hope for the future for victims’ rights and victim/survivor services here in our community; and

WHEREAS: By joining together in partnerships to offer support to individuals impacted by crime and victimization, we can provide help, hope and healing; and

WHEREAS: We recognize that justice isn’t served until crime victims are served, and we applaud the efforts of the Los Alamos Police Department and all of those who serve in this capacity;

NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby proclaim the Week of April 7 – 13, 2019 as “CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK” in Los Alamos County, with honor for those who are crime victims or survivors, and with respect for those who serve them.