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Spring Hill police outline victim services program to begin May 1, no immediate budget impact
Summary
Chief Sutterby told the council the department will launch a victim services program and a law-enforcement-based victim advocate role (Jody Livengood) on May 1 to provide crisis intervention, referrals, and case updates; chief said the role is being absorbed into existing duties initially and will not require new budget funds now.
Chief Sutterby told the council the police department plans to begin a victim services program on May 1 centered on a law-enforcement-based victim advocate who will provide crisis intervention, safety planning, support with protection-from-abuse orders and referrals to partner agencies.
"Our mission in victim services is to empower crime victims by listening to their needs and safeguarding their rights," Chief Sutterby said. He identified Jody Livengood as the department’s public safety officer who will take on the advocate responsibilities initially and said she has completed VOCA training and shadowed counterparts in Overland Park.
Sutterby outlined duties: accompanying victims to interviews, assisting with compensation applications through Kansas’s victim compensation program, coordinating with Sunflower House for forensic interviews in child-victim cases and working with Johnson County and Miami County partners for mental-health co-responder support. He emphasized the advocate is not an investigator and will not provide legal advice or privileged counseling.
When council members asked about cost, Sutterby said there would be no immediate budget impact because Livengood will absorb the duties within her current responsibilities; he added that the department will collect data—numbers served, referrals and contacts—to determine whether a full-time position becomes necessary.
Council members asked about interview space. Sutterby said existing conference space would be used initially and the city could consider dedicated soft interview rooms in future facility planning.
Sutterby also described the Family Safety Center concept—a regional hub that co-locates victim services, forensic interviews and partner organizations—and said Spring Hill could participate in regional planning as that work evolves.
The council did not take action to authorize new spending at this meeting; the chief said he would return with updates as the program produces data that could inform future staffing decisions.
