MEETING DATE: 4/26/2016
DEPARTMENT: HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY
DEPT HEAD/DIRECTOR: James Rydingsword
AGENDA ITEM PREPARER: Maria C. Corona
SBC DEPT FILE NUMBER: 130
SUBJECT:
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY - J. RYDINGSWORD
Present Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) Annual Blue Ribbon Award to Detective Chris Wells of the Hollister Police Department.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 130
AGENDA SECTION:
Presentations and Recognitions
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
April is recognized as the Child Abuse Prevention Month in San Benito County, in the State of California and across the Nation. The Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) each year presents the Blue Ribbon Award to a local community member or organization, who has demonstrated their efforts and interests in benefiting the health, safety and well-being of our County’s children. This year, the Child Abuse Prevention Council of San Benito County, proudly presents the Blue Ribbon Award to Detective Chris Wells from the Hollister Police Department. Detective Wells was hired by the Hollister Police Department in August 2007. Early in his career he assisted with the Juvenile Impact Program that focused on helping troubled youth and in 2014 began working as a Detective with a major focus of his work being child abuse investigations. In 2015 he was instrumental in restarting the Hollister Police Department’s Explorer Program which works with youth who are interested in a law enforcement career.
Detective Wells was nominated because of his dedication to working with our local children and youth and his commitment to ensuring justice be served in a case involving a child survivor of sexual assault. As the lead detective in the sexual assault case, Detective Wells went above and beyond the call of duty, his supportive and protective nature helped to create a comfortable environment were the youth felt safe to share what happened. This helped lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator in the case. Detective Wells continued to support the youth and her family throughout the criminal court process leading up to the sentencing hearing. After taking the youth to the courtroom to familiarize her with the courtroom setting, Detective Wells went back to the Hollister Police Department and sent an email to his colleagues asking for their support for this youth during the sentencing phase of the criminal proceedings. Because of him, on the day of sentencing more than 15 Hollister Police Officers came to the hearing, including the Chief of Police, all wearing ribbons in the youth’s favorite color to show their solidarity and support.
BUDGETED: