September 2021 | Vol. 01 Iss. 07
FREE
ADVOCATE GIVES VICTIMS A VOICE By Becky Ginos | becky.g@davisjournal.com KAYSVILLE—Dogs really are man’s best friend. Just a lick and a nuzzle can soothe the soul. For Jennifer Winchester, victim services coordinator for the Kaysville Police Department, 10-month-old puppy Walter helps her do her job. “We use him as a therapy dog,” said Winchester. “He’s beneficial to us and to victims. He’s a big help just in morale.” Walter is going through hybrid training, she said. “He will learn specific techniques that if we’re interviewing a victim of sexual assault and she gets overwhelmed he’ll use a grounding technique. That’s where he uses deep pressure by putting weight, like a paw, onto the person that helps to calm them.” Studies show that just having a dog present improves mood, she said. “There’s a lot of evidence of that with dogs in general.” Technically Walter will be trained as a service dog, said Winchester. “A service dog is task oriented where an emotional support dog is just there to make you feel better.” Since she is Walter’s handler he gets to come home with her. “It’s a good perk to my job.” Winchester’s position is relatively new to the department. It started with her four years ago. “I’m an advocate for victims of crime,” she said. “I respond out to crime scenes and help them with things they don’t understand, tell them their rights, how the court works and tell them the resources that are available to them.” The department started the program because the chief saw a need, said Winchester. “It’s kind of grown. I’m hoping to bring on some volunteers in the future.” It’s typically crisis response, she said. “In a domestic viContinued page 4
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS
page 6
Acts of Kindness
Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
Jennifer Winchester was recently recognized by the Kaysville Police Department for her exemplary service as victim advocate. Courtesy photos
page 12
Jobs to Fil
page 16
Thank You to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
Jail Safety
Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Ogden, UT Permit #190