The Lincoln Police Department’s Special Victims Unit and the Child Advocacy Center will soon be sharing space, creating a one-stop shop for child sexual assault victims — a move officials say will improve how they respond to such crimes.
The City Council on Monday approved a sublease agreement between the city and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Child Advocacy Center for LPD to use the second floor of the newly renovated center at 5025 Garland St.
As part of the agreement, LPD will pay $500,000 toward the renovation of the space that officers will be using. The department will not pay monthly rent, but will pay for utilities, according to Assistant City Attorney Chris Connolly.
Assistant Police Chief Brian Jackson said the money is coming from previously appropriated funds and from the federal CARES Act, a pandemic economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in 2020.
The move of the LPD unit is part of a $5.2 million expansion of the Child Advocacy Center announced last year.
The center is a nonprofit organization that offers a safe space to conduct forensic interviews and medical evaluations for abused children, serving 17 counties in Southeast Nebraska.
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LPD will move 18 investigators who will be part of the newly formed Special Victims Unit that will work child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and human-trafficking cases.
The public-private project to build the 17,000-square-foot expansion will allow the center to expand its in-house medical program, provide additional room for evidence storage, classrooms for abuse prevention education and space for triage services for children being removed from their homes.
LPD and the Child Advocacy Center already work closely together, Jackson said, and this move will allow them to work even more closely to improve outcomes for young victims.
Top Journal Star photos for October
The basketball courts at Antelope Park went from gray to filled with color this fall. The project to resurface the courts at Normal Boulevard and South Street and repaint them as a reproduction of the painting "Red Sea" by African American artist Felrath Hines was funded by private donations. The original painting is part of the permanent collection of the Sheldon Museum of Art.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird gives the state of the city address on Oct. 4.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Lincoln East's Gabby Pace (center left) and Kooper Barnes (center right) dance as part of the Spartans' pregame routine before an A-5 district game Wednesday at Doris Bair Complex.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska interim defensive coordinator Bill Busch celebrates after the team made a stop against Indiana on Oct. 1 at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star file photo
Johnson-Brock industrial technology teacher Ashton Bohling is one of 20 nationwide winners of the 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Marcus Washington breaks a tackle from Indiana's Bryant Fitzgerald (31) in the third quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star
Flowers ring a tree on Randolph Street where six people died in a car crash Oct. 2.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Malcolm Hartzog (13) and Nebraska wide receiver Ty Hahn (17) celebrate after Hartzog scooped up a blocked punt for a touchdown on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star
A farmer uses a corn combine to harvest his crop on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Johnson, NE. Based on June 1 conditions, Nebraska's 2022 winter wheat crop is forecast at 36.9 million bushels, down 10% from last year's crop, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Elkhorn South's Ellen Bode drives the ball off the 16th tee during the girls class A district golf match on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, at Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska's Casey Thompson (left) celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown with teammate Chancellor Brewington during the game against Indiana on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Camden Hjermstad hits a ball during the Heartland Athletic Conference championships at Woods Tennis Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lead teacher Jazi Hudnall (center) plays with children (from left) Goamar Gony, Cha'Ziye West, Gloria Retana, Grace Dounda, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Community Action K Street Head Start Center in Lincoln.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen moderates a hearing on the voter ID initiative, Tuesday at the state Capitol.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Elkhorn South's Kennadi Borngrebe (top left) celebrates with her teammates after the Storm defeated Lincoln East in a Class A state softball game Thursday at Bill Smith Complex in Hastings.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lyla Hardrick, 5, of Lincoln, swings to hit a ball during More is Possible Rally, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Haymarket Park in Lincoln. The outdoor sporting event featured Huskers players, coaches, and alumni to celebrate the 50 anniversary of Title IX.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Malcolm's Hayden Frank (center) stretches into the Lincoln Lutheran endzone to score a touchdown during the third quarter on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Malcolm Public Schools in Malcolm.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln East reacts as Madison Adams (19) runs home after hitting one of the 18 homers hit by the Spartans in three district games this week. East beat Columbus 12-0 to win the A-6 district Thursday at Doris Bair Complex.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln High's Dane Mentore (right) tackles Lincoln East's Dash Bauman (6) during the first half Thursday at Seacrest Field.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gabriel Wilhelm, 9, closes his ears as the Lincoln Pius X band plays before Friday's game against Waverly at Aldrich Field.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Justine Bassen of Lincoln directs signs toward passing motorists during the Lincoln Women's March on Saturday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Best of Big Red general manager Joey Rupp poses for a photo with the new foam Cornhead hat Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Ashland-Greenwood's Nathan Upton tries to bring down Omaha Roncalli's Wyatt Yetter on runs in the fourth quarter on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, at Ashland-Greenwood High School in Ashland.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A section of the the Deadman's run watershed which snakes past the Hansen-Mueller grain silos in Northeast Lincoln is photographed by a drone on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, at in Lincoln. Over the past 20 years, the city and Lower Platte NRD have created master plans to manage flood risk, stream stability and water quality in 14 watersheds in and around Lincoln. A proposed comprehensive master plan updates and combines all those plans, which include long-awaited work on Deadmans Run. City voters approved a bond issue that will help pay for the work to widen nearly 1 1/2 miles of the main channel in north Lincoln, replace bridges and build a stormwater basin.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln East celebrates after the final point of the second set against Lincoln North Star during a HAC Tournament game Tuesday at East.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
During the pandemic, the Rev. Allan Phan of Sacred Heart Church in Crete began speaking to his parishioners through his "Devotions with Daisy" blog on Facebook. The videos of he and his dog have been popular among congregants.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
McCook's Evan Humphrey (left) embraces Lincoln Michaelis after winning the Class B No. 1 doubles title on Friday at Woods Tennis Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southwest players celebrate after scoring against Lincoln East on Oct. 10 at East High School.
JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Lincoln Pius X's Nicole Kolbas (middle) reacts after completing the 18th hole at the state girls golf tournament Tuesday at Norfolk Country Club. Kolbas shot a 36-hole 151 to win the tournament for the third consecutive year.
NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LJSreist
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