DA team member K-9 Lane will support child victims and witnesses in San Bernardino County

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
·2 min read
Meet District Attorney team member K-9 Lane, who will support child victims and witnesses in San Bernardino County.
Meet District Attorney team member K-9 Lane, who will support child victims and witnesses in San Bernardino County.

K-9 Lane is the newest member of the San Bernardino County District Attorney team.

The district attorney’s office on Friday welcomed the 2-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, who was born in New York and raised by the New Mexico-based Assistance Dogs of the West. K-9 Lane is specially tasked to provide comfort and support to child victims and witnesses during their forensic interview and medical exam.

After months of training, K-9 Lane was welcomed to the office after he completed his first forensic interview, county officials said. District attorney staff added that they are proud to report he did a “PAWesome job.”

With the core value of respect for the singular bond between humans and dogs and their unique ability to work together as a team, Program Director Jill Felice founded the canine support group in 1995, the company said.

District Attorney team member K-9 Lane will support child victims and witnesses in San Bernardino County.
District Attorney team member K-9 Lane will support child victims and witnesses in San Bernardino County.

K-9 Lane will be at a child’s side to lend support while they visit the Child Assessment Center of San Bernardino or the Loma Linda University Child Resiliency Institute for Child Adversity.

The Children's Assessment Center, a public/private partnership between the county and Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, provides interviews and examinations to assist in the evaluation of child abuse allegations.

The resiliency institute also provides interviews and exams while facilitating student education and research, and addressing community needs in the area of child abuse, according to Loma Linda University Health.

“Abuse of children has become an all too familiar story in this country and beyond,” said Dr. Richard Hart, president of Loma Linda University Health. “Loma Linda University Health’s Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity will build and grow upon the reputation that CAC has maintained as a national exemplar in caring for abused children.”

San Bernardino County District Attorney team member K-9 Lane recently celebrated his first forensic interview after months of training. He will now support child victims and witnesses.
San Bernardino County District Attorney team member K-9 Lane recently celebrated his first forensic interview after months of training. He will now support child victims and witnesses.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: DA team member K-9 Lane will support child victims and witnesses