LANYARD

Description: LOOP OF NAVY WOVEN NYLON CORD WITH BLACK PLASTIC CLASP AT ONE END AND HINGED METAL CLIP AT OPPOSITE END. REPEATING TEXT PRINTED IN WHITE RUNS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE CORD, READING “LETHBRIDGE REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE” AND “VICTIM / WITNESS SERVICES”. OVERALL VERY GOOD CONDITION.

History: THIS LANYARD WAS INITIALLY SOLICITED AS A LOAN FOR THE 2008 EXHIBIT ‘BADGE MEETS BIBLE’. AT THAT TIME, RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED BY GALT COLLECTIONS TECHNICIAN KEVIN MACLEAN INTO THE HISTORY OF THE LETHBRIDGE POLICE FORCE’S CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM AND THE VICTIM/WITNESS SERVICES UNIT. VICTIM/WITNESS SERVICES WAS FOUNDED IN 1991, AND TOOK OVER SOME OF THE DUITES PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED BY POLICE CHAPLAINS WHEN THE CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM WAS DISBANDED IN 1997. DURING THE LATE 1990S VICTIMS’ SERVICES UNITS WERE BECOMING FAIRLY COMMON WITH POLICE SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OVER A ONE-YEAR PERIOD IN 1994, THE LETHBRIDGE UNIT’S VOLUNTEERS HANDLED 747 FILES WHICH INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF ASSAULT, MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, BREAK-INS, ROBBERIES AND SUICIDE. TODAY’S VICTIM/WITNESS SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AN EMPATHETIC EAR, PERSONAL VISITS TO HOMES AND HOSPITALS, REFERRALS, AND COURT PREPARATION INFORMATION. THE UNIT IS FUNDED IN PART BY THE ALBERTA SOLICITOR-GENERAL AND THE CITY OF LETHRBIDGE. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR BROCHURES PRODUCED BY VICTIM/WITNESS SERVICES.