BCSO, UCF Partner To Combat Domestic Violence

By  //  January 29, 2015

team an innovative Workgroup

Earlier this year the University of Central Florida College of Sciences, Dr. Adam Pritchard and the Brevard County Sheriff's Office teamed up with an innovative Workgroup designed to improve investigative responses to Domestic Violence. (BCSO image)
Earlier this year the University of Central Florida College of Sciences, Dr. Adam Pritchard and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with an innovative Workgroup designed to improve investigative responses to Domestic Violence. (BCSO image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Earlier this year the University of Central Florida College of Sciences, Dr. Adam Pritchard and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with an innovative Workgroup designed to improve investigative responses to Domestic Violence.

Phil Archer
Phil Archer

The project plans to provide forensic medical care to address serious health concerns that arise from incidents of Domestic Violence Strangulation Cases and to better identify and collect the associated evidence to aid in the prosecution of these types of violent crime.

With that focus in mind, the Brevard County Strangulation Pilot Project Workgroup was conceived by Brevard County Sheriff’s Agents Cyndi Young and Jessie Holton.

Adam Pritchard
Adam Pritchard

The Workgroup brings together experts from many disciplines such as the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the University of Central Florida, the Brevard County State Attorney’s Office, Department of Health, Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Serene Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter and the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program.

Dr. Adam Pritchard along with Sociology Graduate Students Chelsea Nordham and Shannon Frey who represent UCF and will oversee the Workgroup data collection and pilot project evaluation efforts.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey Welcomes New MembersRelated Story:
Sheriff Wayne Ivey Welcomes New Members

I would like to personally thank and commend our State Attorney Phil Archer, Dr. Pritchard, the incredible team from UCF, and our Agents Cyndi Young and Jessie Holton whose efforts and commitment are working to develop a model that will be used across the country to provide awareness, improve evidence collection, investigative techniques and ultimately prevent victimization by Domestic Violence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey

Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft.

That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.

The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.

Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.

Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.