The Wyandotte County community, families of fallen victims, and community officials will come together on Monday, April 29, to remember those who have lost their lives to homicide in 2018.
The event begins with a light dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., followed by the program from 6 to 8 p.m. at Forest Grove Baptist Church, 1417 N. 9th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
The Crime Awareness Coordinating Effort (C.A.C.E.), a program of Friends of Yates, will hold its 20th annual Memorial – Candlelighting Service and Forum in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
This year’s theme and panel discussion will be centered around “Honoring Our Past, Creating Hope for the Future – H.O.P.E: Having Our Processes Explained; A Frank Discussion of the Criminal Justice System and How It Works.”
The service is co-sponsored by the Kansas City Kansas Police Department’s Victim Services Unit, along with the Wyandotte County Office of the District Attorney’s Victim Assistance Program.
The Crime Awareness Coordinating Effort (C.A.C.E.) was developed in response to the death of a 10-year-old girl in Kansas City, Kansas. This tragic event created great concern throughout the Kansas City, Kansas, community.
A forum was called by Friends of Yates and members of the Baptist Minister’s Union on Oct. 27, 1998, to bring together local businesses, law enforcement personnel, community leaders and concerned citizens to begin the dialogue about how crime was plaguing the Kansas City, Kansas, community. Friends of Yates’ goal was to challenge community leaders to collaborate and design a strong plan to address violence in the area. Through the efforts of Friends of Yates, a collaborative partnership was formed and became known as the Crime Awareness Coordinating Effort (C.A.C.E.).
This year’s memorial service will remember the 40 victims of homicide, serve as a support system for victims’ families, and educate the Wyandotte County community on the progress made to diminish the threat of violence throughout the community.
This year’s guest panelists will include District Attorney Mark Dupree, Wyandotte County Office of the District Attorney; Deputy District Attorney Karen Wittman, Wyandotte County Office of the District Attorney; a representative from the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department; Sgt. Robert Rome, Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department; Damon Daniel, president, AdHoc Group Against Crime; Kristen Czugala, program supervisor, KCKPD Victim Services Unit; Lindy Russell, victim-witness coordinator, Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office; and Rebbecca Johnson, program director, Friends of Yates Inc.
In addition, Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department homicide detectives will attend to speak with families and community members regarding open homicide cases.
Other program participants will include LaDora Lattimore, Friends of Yates, executive director-CEO; Rosalyn Brown, Friends of Yates, incoming executive director-CEO; Kristen Czugala, KCKPD, victim services unit; and Sharon Gauna, office of the district attorney, victims assistance program.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information about this event and other programs and services sponsored by Friends of Yates, or for ways to support, volunteer or donate to the agency, contact Shanice Gipson, community outreach educator at 913-321-1566, [email protected] or visit the website at www.friendsofyates.org.
- Information from Shanice Gipson, Friends of Yates