GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Homicides and other violent crimes impact numerous people in Greensboro every day. But who can those victims and their families turn to once the crime scene tape comes down?
The Greensboro Police Department’s Victim Services Unit is there to help and recently was able to expand their team and their impact on the community.
Tiara Washington, Mary Nero and Emily Weisensel make up the new team. Nero started as a part-time victim advocate in 2020, and the next year she was full-time. Now, she has tripled her team, which she says not only helps her workload but her mental health as well.
“I think we all meshed very well together,” said Washington, a victim support specialist for the GPD.
All three women have criminal justice backgrounds.
“We all have our different strengths in law enforcement and experience, and we all have a different perspective, so we help each other a lot,” said Weisensel, a victim support specialist for the GPD.
At the root of it all, the three women have a passion for people.
“We had to address the community on a human level. This horrible thing happens in your neighborhood, and it’s not just enough for the police to show up, get the bad guy out. It was like, ‘OK. We are leaving lives and people in the wake of the violence. We need to take care of them,’” said Nero, the victim services coordinator at the GPD.
Nero has been taking on this task by herself for years.
“The detective will close out the case … but the family never closed out the case … There is no expiration date for the loss and the love they have for their loved one,” Nero said.
While she still gets calls and connects with victims from years past, the new cases continue to pile on each day.
“We split it up evenly so … we are not getting overloaded with cases,” Washington said.
Right now, the focus is on families from homicides and other violent crimes like shootings, stabbings, robberies and assaults.
“Our unit is somewhat in its infancy but really strong for where we are at within a 6-month time frame, so it has been very smooth … We are learning, developing, creating and collaborating with each other,” Weisensel said.
A federal grant paid for the new positions and a new soft room to give a more comfortable space to speak with the victims.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed to ask for help. It is something we are here for. We are here to offer those services,” Washington said.
Right now, the biggest goal of the VSU is to get the word out that they are here to help.
“Grief is not linear. It is very much a journey,” Weisensel said.
The team hopes these three are just the beginning and will continue to get more advocates in the future and help with more types of victims as well, including traffic fatalities, which are on the rise this year.
If you would like to connect with the VSU, you can contact Mary Nero at (336) 580-2979.
