Buda Police Department could add victim services coordinator position through grant funding

Buda City Council authorized the Buda Police Department to seek a grant for a full-time victim services coordinator position.

The grant request would cover the start-up costs of the position, salary, benefits, supplies and more totaling $74,984 funded by the Capitol Area Council of Governments. If approved, the city of Buda would assume the costs of the position after its first year.

Agenda documents from a Feb. 1 council meeting state all other law enforcement agencies in Hays County have at least one full-time victim services position to serve the victims of crimes within their jurisdiction.

Among other responsibilities, victim services coordinators provide on-scene assistance to victims of crimes, aid in support and follow-ups on active cases, provide counseling and accompany victims to court.

Currently, the duties of a victim services position fall to Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police Brittany Tate, according to city information.

Documents from the Feb. 1 meeting state the city would benefit from having a dedicated position focused solely on crime victims.

According to a staff analysis, the city has grown enough to justify the new position, and "it would be appropriate for the [BPD] to provide additional resources in this area and be more proactive and involved with crime victims and their rights."