Lawrence Police Department rolling out ‘survivor-focused’ Special Victims Unit

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World File Photo

Lawrence Police Department vehicles are pictured during the University of Kansas Homecoming Parade in this file photo from Sept. 27, 2018.

Story updated at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday:

The Lawrence Police Department is rolling out its Special Victims Unit, or SVU, that will focus primarily on cases of physical abuse — specifically, crimes against children, crimes of a sexual nature and domestic violence, according to a news release.

“LKPD has deliberately focused on the development of the SVU for over a year, and its implementation is a testament to the department’s commitment to a survivor-focused philosophy,” according to the news release from the department on Tuesday.

LPD has moved into its new west Lawrence headquarters, the Journal-World reported Monday. Interim Police Chief Anthony Brixius said in the release that in the new building LPD has “incorporated a safe, comfortable space for these individuals who are in an extraordinarily vulnerable time in their lives.”

“Their first encounter with law enforcement must be positive, and we’re proud to have a dedicated group whose sole purpose is the well-being of these victims and their families,” Brixius said in the release.

photo by: Mike Yoder

A child-safe interview room is pictured in the new Lawrence police department headquarters at 5100 Overland Drive, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020.

Lt. Amy Rhoads will supervise the SVU. She said via email that the unit will also include a sergeant, three detectives and two juvenile investigators who all have recently attended trauma-informed training, as well as a dedicated crime analyst.

LPD intends to incorporate trauma-informed best practices that leverage its partnerships with community stakeholders, including the incoming Douglas County district attorney and the Willow Domestic Violence Center, according to the release.

The department announced in May that it was partnering with the Willow to hire a victim advocate tasked with providing direct services and support to survivors of domestic violence, stalking and human trafficking. The SVU will have access to the victim advocate, Rhoads said.

Incoming DA Suzanne Valdez previously told the Journal-World that her office would have its own SVU led by a prosecutor, Emily Hartz, who will handle these types of cases. Hartz will also ensure that the rest of the DA’s office employees, and ideally law enforcement, are also involved in training, Valdez said.

“The District Attorney’s Office looks forward to collaborating with the Lawrence Kansas Police Department to develop a coordinated and trauma-informed response to addressing issues of sexual assault, domestic violence, and crimes against children in our community,” Valdez said in LPD’s release.

The Journal-World reported on plans for the SVU in February. At that time, Capt. Adam Heffley told the newspaper that it was common for larger police departments to have a Special Victims Unit that handles these types of crimes, but LPD has never specialized to that level before.

Heffley, who previously oversaw the department’s investigations division, had hoped to launch the SVU in spring 2020; however, Rhoads said that because of adjustments in place from the pandemic and the move to the new facility, the department determined that it would be best to implement the new SVU when the move occurred.

Rhoads said that all of the unit’s sworn members have received training related to child forensic interviews.

“As we move into the new year, we will look for additional training opportunities,” she said via email. “Lastly, we look forward to working with the new incoming District Attorney Suzanne Valdez and the other community stakeholders to make this unit the best it can be to serve the survivors and the citizens of Lawrence.”