Running to raise awareness, honor advocates

Over 150 Sweetwater County residents gathered at the bridge onto Expedition Island Saturday morning. Some wore athletic clothing, ready to run. Some had dogs on leashes. Some pushed strollers. Some were children riding bikes and scooters. Others were local law enforcement officers and their families.

At the signal the crowd took off, making their way across the two bridges on and off the island, along the Greenbelt, and back. Most ran or walked the length of a 5k, while some committed to a full 10k.

The race was hosted by YWCA of Sweetwater County and was the ninth annual Run with the Badges event in recognition of April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the last week of April as National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

The event is one of the many events YWCA hosts that are designed "to bring awareness for all victims of crime about their rights, protections, and services available to them," according to YWCA Development Director Kayla Mannikko.

"Run with the Badges" also brings attention and recognition to the local agencies YWCA partners with to provide services to victims of family violence, particularly law enforcement agencies and the men and women within them.

For the second year in a row, YWCA decided to use the run as an opportunity to give special recognition to some individual partners who have made a significant difference in the efforts to help victims. YWCA partnered with the Sweetwater County Attorney's office to choose this year's awards recipients, who were given plaques in appreciation of their "outstanding service on behalf of the victims of crime."

The awards were presented by County Attorney Dan Erramouspe after the race.

The first award went to Detective Sergeant Jeff Sheaman from Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office.

"Detective Sheaman always goes above and beyond in the cases he works," Erramouspe said. "In the past year he worked a case with a young girl who was a victim of a violent sexual assault. Detective Sheaman was able to communicate with the victim and her mother without causing additional trauma."

Erramouspe explained that Detective Sheaman interviewed the eight-year-old victim in the hospital just hours after she was assaulted, which helped lead to an arrest within 24 hours. Sheaman also worked another case where he knew charges couldn't be filed in Wyoming, but he remained committed to the victim's safety and he connected with multiple agencies to follow up on incidents outside the state. Erramouspe called Detective Sheaman's commitment to his work and and ability to help victims "truly inspiring."

The second award was given to Green River Police Department Detective Trevor Kirkwood.

Erramouspe explained that Detective Kirkwood took the lead on the investigation of the shooting at the Embassy Tavern last summer. Even though charges couldn't be filed after the shooter took his life, Kirkwood worked on behalf of the victims and their families, meeting with them to explain the investigation and working on certifications to allow the families to receive compensation from the State Division of Victim Services.

"His level of dedication to his cases is inspiring," Erramouspe said of Kirkwood. "He gives it his all."

The third award was given to Rock Springs Police Department Officer Amber Siddoway.

"Officer Siddoway puts great time and effort into solving the cases she responds to as a patrol officer," Erramouspe said.

Siddoway investigated a shooting at the Wyoming Club in January, determined the suspect, and got a confession from him about his crime, Erramouspe explained. He said Officer Siddoway's work in the case was intuitive, and she was able to solve it quickly. Her level of dedication is something that also benefits victims of crimes.

"Working the case as hard as you can to conclusion brings a little bit more closure quickly to those victims," Erramouspe said.

The fourth award for a law enforcement member went to Wyoming Highway Patrol Lieutenant Tyler Chapman.

Although he works in the Rawlins division of WHP, Chapman frequently responds to fatal crashes in Sweetwater County, Erramouspe explained, adding the lieutenant shows up no matter the time or road conditions.

"It is Lieutenant Chapman's thorough investigation on each crash that provides answers for the families of victims and allows the cases to proceed, whether criminally or in civil court," Erramouspe said. "Lieutenant Chapman has shown dedication to the highway in the state of Wyoming and the people riding on it."

The last award was chosen to be given to an advocate from within YWCA, and was presented by YWCA Executive Director Melinda Baas.

"We wanted to recognize the advocates that work in our office that do the hard work of working with the victims," Baas explained, pointing out that YWCA continues to work with and help victims even after they are finished with law enforcement. YWCA helps with everything from providing shelter to giving rides to helping people sign up for counseling, and more.

"Once you leave or once you deal with an abusive situation, you're still going to have consequences after," Baas said. "We want to be there."

After poling partnership agencies to decide who deserved the award, the recognition went to Brittany Fisher.

"Brittany has been an advocate with the YWCA for eight years," Baas explained. "She's our longest-serving advocate. She has moved up and now is considered our lead advocate."

Fisher has worked directly with clients through all the different variations of domestic violence programs, according to Baas, and has stayed committed to the YWCA's mission.

"Run with the Badges" was one of several events the YWCA hosted in April to bring awareness to sexual assault, which the organization explained is one of the most underreported crimes in America. Teal bracelets were available at multiple locations throughout the month, and the YWCA also encouraged participation in "Denim Day" April 26.

The YWCA Center for Families and Children (CFC) program serves victims of all forms of family violence including but not limited to domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking. Anyone who is a victim of any form of family violence can receive services from YWCA CFC.

For more information, or if you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, contact the YWCA Center for Families and Children, located at 2620 Commercial Way Suite 5 in Rock Springs, at (307) 382-3124 or at Western Wyoming Community College in Green River. Advocates are also available 24/7 by calling the crisis line at (307) 352-1030.