Crime Victims United, Auburn PD team up to put comfort bags in patrol cars

Crime Victims United and the Auburn Police Department have entered into a pilot project to place comfort bags for victims in patrol cars. CVU and Auburn PD are seeking sponsorships and donations of items to include in the comfort bags. The goal is to build 1,000 kits, and the drive runs from Thanksgiving through Dec. 31. The comfort bags would include resource cards, a notepad, pen, small flashlight, tissue, toothpicks, toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, a mini first aid kit, a comb and brush and a stuffed animal, items CVU President Nina Salarno Besselman said would "help ease their transition from being the victim of a crime to having their whole life shattered. "When you're the victim of a crime, in 30 seconds your life is torn apart and shattered," she said, adding a first responder is the most critical person a victim meets. "I've seen victims that never recover, but a first responder easing that transition can help a victim recover. Just to know the officer has something to give them, and the community cares about them, you're at the most vulnerable time in your life and to know strangers care can make all the difference. Think about a small child, they get a coloring book." Salarno Besselman hopes the pilot project will expand throughout Placer County to include the Sheriff's Office and Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln police departments. There are various sponsorship levels – from $100 to a chief sponsorship of $2,500, which would include a logo on the comfort bag with the Crime Victims United and Auburn PD logos. People can drop off items or sponsor an item to be included in the bag. "We recognize when officers respond to calls for help this is the moment crime victims are the most vulnerable and overwhelmed, as their lives have been completely turned upside down," Auburn Police Chief Ryan Kinnan said. "To be able to provide support and empathy for crime victims as quickly is essential to their well-being. It is through partnerships, such as the one we have with Crime Victims United, that ensures we are successful." Salarno Besselman and Kinnan are also open to ideas. "We're not married to this list. We're open to somebody in the community approaching us with ideas," Salarno Besselman said. "It's an innovative new program, and we're learning."