Sexual assault response agreement enables better care for victims

Local officials, along with the Laughlin wing commander, gathered to launch the Sexual Assault Response Team in Val Verde County on the historic steps of the Val Verde County Courthouse Oct. 13.

Local officials, including the Guatemalan consular, Mexican consular’s representative, Val Verde County Judge, Sheriff, Del Rio Police Department Chief, district attorney, representatives of Val Verde Regional Medical Center, and several other helping and law enforcement agencies, joined with Col. Thomas Shank, 47th Flying Training Wing commander to sign a cooperative agreement, detailing how they’d respond to sexual assaults.

“This is a day when all of these agencies and elected officials, have come together to say enough to sexual assault, to the predators who perpetrate these horrific crimes,” Shank said. “We are committing to working together to stop the crime and when we are unable to stop it, to ensure top quality care is taken of the victims.”

The SART will stop the need for victims to receive care in San Antonio, and will allow victims to receive all of the initial care and response possible in Del Rio. The only way they will be moved is due to severity of injuries.

“This means victims will not have to take that three-hour ride to San Antonio,” said Linda Rittermeyer, Val Verde Regional Medical Center chief nursing officer. “They will be cared for right here in Val Verde County.”

Joe Frank Martinez, Val Verde County sheriff, said this is one of the keys to a victims’ recovery. “A three-hour ride there, and a three-hour ride back plus hours of examinations just adds to the victimization.”

The sheriff added that this will aid law enforcement’s apprehension efforts. “For law enforcement, it means we can focus all of our efforts here, energy that we can now focus on taking predators off of the streets.”