The West Virginia Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Commission, a governor appointed board, was created in 2014 to establish, manage, and monitor a statewide system to facilitate the timely and efficient collection of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases. The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (FRIS) is the state sexual assault coalition that works with rape crisis centers, sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs), law enforcement, prosecutors, and other professionals to address topics surrounding sexual assault and stalking. FRIS is fundamentally involved with sexual violence prevention and intervention programs throughout the state of West Virginia. The pioneering Tucker County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) has joined the growing list of West Virginia Counties committed to the prevention of sexual violence in conjunction with the WV SAFE Commission and WV FRIS. The SART has engaged the state in the development of a safer future for Tucker County
In late 2019, Tucker County had its first meeting establishing the Tucker County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Members of the team include Raymond LaMora, Tucker County Prosecutor; Justin Schmidle, Trooper First Class West Virginia State Police Parsons Detachment; Donna Helmick, Tucker County Outreach Coordinator with the Centers Against Violence; Dani Lambruno, St. George Medical Clinic Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), Laura Schmidle SANE and Faculty Instructor with FRIS; April Miller, Executive Director Tucker County Family Resources Network; Amy Cummings, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor (ALPS) at the Tucker County Day Report Center; Justin Sigley, Chief Deputy Tucker County Sheriffs Department.
The team met with FRIS State Coordinator, Nancy Hoffman, to gain insight for roles and responsibilities
If you or someone you know has been a victim of a sexual assault or sexual abuse, call 911 immediately to report the crime and to begin the SART response.
