Albuquerque Police have an updated safe space for victims and survivors
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has remodeled the space where family members, victims, and survivors connect with resources and investigators.
The Family Advocacy Center has a brand-new lobby, thanks to a grant from the state’s Crime Victims Reparation Commission. Police say the updated space will help support public safety.
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“The staff and partners at the Family Advocacy Center help our community during their darkest days,” Mayor Tim Keller said in a press release. “Victims and their families deserve this welcoming space where they can feel safe and supported as they navigate tough times.”
In addition to fresh paint, furniture, a snack bar, and a kids corner, the site also has some special decorations to support the safe space. Dan Humbles, a horticulturist with the city, chose healing-focused plants for the space. The plants were donated in honor of Humbles’s sister, a crime victim.
A special butterfly tree also adorns the space. It was donated by Ryan Saavedra Sr. in honor of his son, who was the victim of a 2021 homicide, APD says.
“Within the Family Advocacy Center, we investigate some of the worst crimes and individual can endure, and the impact of crime can go well beyond just the person who was victimized,” APD Chief Harold Medina said in a press release. “Whether a survivor walks through the door of the Family Advocacy Center or a family who lost someone to homicide sits in this room, we want them to feel that we are here for them, and they are safe and will receive the services and care they need.”
