Grin’s Sponsors Cops For Kids Event

Photo by Melissa Rodriguez. Photo caption (Left to right): HCSO’s Ken Carpenter, Dennis Gutierrez, SMPD’s Kelly Earnest, HCSO’s Jeri Skrocki, Mark Opiela, SMPD’s Adrian Marin, Sandra Spriegel, HCSO’s Tate Puryear and Mike Andrews. Not pictured but also participating is HCSO’s Robert Nguyen.

This year, HCWC’s Children’s Advocacy Center, Roxanne’s House partnered with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and San Marcos Police Department for their 1^st Annual Cops For Kids event at Grin’s Restaurant on Tuesday, April 12^th.

Grin’s patrons were treated to a special server: law enforcement officers in uniform who not only served them their meals but also talked to them about the important work they do along with Roxanne’s House in protecting Hays County’s children.

Hays County Sheriff’s Office Detective Mark Opiela shared, “this event served as a reminder to me that although we strive to bring these types of cases to a successful resolution, our mission begins with education and the support of a community.  It is imperative that we recognize that every day, a young person in our community is subjected to some form of abuse and we have an obligation and a responsibility to end it”.

During the night’s efforts, HCWC-Roxanne’s House Program Director Stephanie Opiela expressed, “it was great to see them interacting with community members on such a positive level, when so much of the time their first point of contact is after a traumatic event. We are so appreciative of the work our law enforcement does and for the compassionate support and generous contributions of our community members”.

Last year, HCWC – Roxanne’s House served 672 children and adults in their children’s services program in Hays and Caldwell County with 469 of those from Hays County alone. Roxanne’s House is in partnership with local Law Enforcement, Child Protective Services, District Attorney’s Office and CASA, and together representatives from each entity work as a team on the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases in Hays and Caldwell County.

HCWC-Roxanne’s House provides specialized services to child abuse victims and their protective caregivers such as forensic interviewing, counseling, play therapy and advocacy services. In addition, trained staff provide professional presentations and community education on recognizing and reporting child abuse, internet safety and how to talk to children about safety.

We would like to thank everyone in the community that came out to support Cops For Kids and a special thank you to Paul Sutphen, owner of Grin’s for allowing us to hold this event at his restaurant and to the 10 law enforcement officers that stepped up to the task and reminded us that it literally takes a village to protect our children.

The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center has a 38-year history of serving women, men and children in Hays and Caldwell Counties who are victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse. All HCWC services are free and confidential.  For more information please visit www.hcwc.org or call (512) 396-HELP.