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Data Facts is proud to support the positives and be a
presenting sponsor of "The Spark."
State Systems is focused on protecting life and property.
As a local privately owned company,
our foundation was built on providing all businesses with
complete fire security protection and infrastructure
cabling.
State Systems is proud to be a part of the Mid-South community
and a presenting sponsor of "The Spark."
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1954.
We have always focused on supporting our community and
believe in promoting the positives,
encouraging engagement and leading by example.
Lipscomb and Pitts is proud to be a presenting sponsor of "The
Spark."
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This month on "The Spark" our theme is safety.
We'll learn more about an organization focused on the
safety and protection of all children,
especially those who are missing or being exploited,
a company that specializes in security and guard service that
is bringing together police officers and business leaders to
work together in curbing crime and an organization focused on
providing one location that combines civil,
criminal, health and social services for victims of domestic
violence.
Have you ever been excited by a new idea?
Inspired by watching someone lead by example?
When we talk about creating change,
we start by sharing the stories of everyday heroes who are
making a difference in their own way so we can learn and do the
same.
This truth is the power behind this show which is focused on
business and community leaders that are leading by example to
give back, fuel change and create new opportunities for the
Mid-South.
I'm Jeremy Park and this is "The Spark".
They work with 30 different partner agencies across the
Mid-South.
Their focus is providing one location that combines criminal,
civil, health and social services for victims of domestic
violence.
I'm here with the executive director of the Family Safety
Center of Memphis and Shelby County,
Olliette Murry-Drobot.
And you have a very unique history nine years in the
making.
Give us a little but of that back story in terms of
establishing the Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby
County.
It was really a number of community leaders coming
together in Memphis and Shelby Crime Commission really taking
the lead and bringing a number of organizations and elected
officials together to have a difficult at times conversation
about how do we really improve the outcomes for domestic
violence victims and their families.
So it took nine years of discussion and really in the
buy-in from all of those partners again because you're
talking about large agencies coming together and agreeing to
coordinate and collaborate around services for victims.
And that's the very unique nature of this is you have one
location that's a safe haven.
So instead of someone that's a victim having to go out on their
own to 30 different agencies to be able to gather these
resources, you're bringing them all to one place and so they can
walk through your doors.
What do they have access to when they walk through your doors?
So one, they have access to a compassionate staff.
Again, a knowledgeable staff.
They can navigate them through that process.
So often times, we may have someone come through our doors
that may understand what's going on in their relationship.
And so they know I need access to individual counseling or I
want an order of protection.
And sometimes they may not have a clue at all.
They're just saying I'm here.
I need help.
Again, one of the processes that we take them through is doing a
sit-down initial assessment.
We want to understand as much as possible about that relationship
and the dynamics and whether or not there are children involved
in that relationship, what's been the length of that
relationship, are they living with that person.
The next step we start thinking about safety planning.
Because we want to be thought out.
We don't want someone to have to leave in the middle of the night
and, you know, and they're rushing.
We want them to think it through and have a plan in place.
So one of the things that we're, you know,
talking to them about is do you have a safe place to go.
Do you have a code word so if an incident was happening and
there's a violent moment, could you pick up the phone and say,
you know, provide a code word to someone so they'll know to call
9-1-1.
Right.
Again, we're also walking them through a danger assessment.
We want to get a sense of what level of danger that they're in
because based on research we've seen,
there are certain factors that have a tendency related to
domestic violence homicides like substance abuse.
Again, maybe the person or abuser has suicidal thoughts.
Again, there are other things like their access to weapons in
the house.
So again, we bring all of that in to discussion when we're
developing that safety plan with that client.
And I think that's a really important note is that it's not
just they're coming in at that point of risk,
high risk where it's like I need out right now or I've already
come out.
They're actually planning ahead.
So they're being very proactive so that they have the right plan
to be effective for not only themselves but for their family
and their children.
Yes.
So when they're sitting down with that staff person,
again, we're mapping it out.
We're helping them think through the steps.
And not only that, when we connect them to our partners,
they also walk them through those steps.
They repeatedly go through that safety plan also reviewing that
safety plan with the children as well.
So let's go ahead and let's show viewers a little bit more about
the Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County and
also, too, talk to a survivor.
[soft music] ♪♪♪
The Family Safety Center is a hub that will
connect victims of domestic violence or families of there in
crisis to services such as support group,
services for their children such as play therapy or child
therapy, individuals to individual counseling.
Also, possible emergency shelter services and things of that
nature.
I am a 20+ year survivor of domestic violence.
That secrecy and that humiliation and that shame that
a woman has to deal with when she's going through that life is
something that most people will not understand unless you've
walked in those shoes.
I'm the first person usually that victim will see when they
come through the door.
I want them to recieve a warm face and someone who can say I
know, I've been there.
You know I know what you're going through.
And we can do this.
You can come above it.
And I think that this is the greatest place that the Memphis
Community has developed because when I was going through my
domestic violence situation, there was not a family safety
center.
The process for getting an order of protection or just receiving
any kind of help was a two to three,
sometimes a week or two week process.
Now you can come in and at least talk to everybody that you need
to talk to and get most of the services that a woman going
through that situation will really need in one day.
So that gives us a little bit more perspective.
I know that one of the things right now,
there's about 20,000 cases of domestic violence that the
Memphis Police Department deals with.
You work with roughly 200 a month.
What's the typical stay when someone walks through the doors
and they have access to the services,
obviously?
How long are they working wtih you?
Is it 30 days, 60 days, 90 days?
I know it's probably going to vary a bit but what is it
typically?
We do customize that approach depending on the needs of that
client.
So typically we're looking at 60 days.
But often times, we'll have individuals that come back.
They made need support during that time when they're again
working on that safety plan and working on that exit strategy.
So they're checking in with us again.
They may need additional support.
So at first, maybe the needed access to a shelter.
But now they're ready to go in to individual counseling.
So again, it depends on the needs and the wants of the
client.
And I know that you're using the 30 partner agencies to be the
noticers.
So they're out there looking for things that are a little bit
awry so they can intervene early.
And talk about some of the things you were doing proactive.
I know you do a lot of community speaking.
But what are some other things that you're engaging with the
community on to be proactive?
Again, we work really hard with the Shelby County government and
we're a part of Mayor Luttrell's Family Life Series.
So we're going out to churches and talking about what the signs
are, also about the resources that folks can connect to at the
Famiyl Safety Center.
Also we have a new initiative we're working on that we're
really proud of working with the police department and
establishing a volunteer program.
Again, we know by research that folks are more likely to connect
to their faith leader when something is going on in that
household.
So we want to educate faith leaders about what the signs
are, about the dynamics of family violence.
And again, they're also at the center to provide spiritual
support to clients as well.
So you talked about the signs.
What are some of the signs?
For those out in the community that have friends,
coworkers, loved ones, what are some of the things that we
should be looking for?
Again, if you notice any bruises and marks,
unexplained bruises and marks, again you may hear insults.
Also that person maybe -- may have a lot of anxiety,
a lot of fear.
Again, that person is more isolated.
Where you used to spend a lot of time with this person,
this person has pretty much disappeared again.
She may not be answering her phone anymore.
And so again, there's a lot of isolation going on there.
Also you may see, again, this person who used to spend a lot
of time, you know, on their appearance and now it's like
she's not paying as much attention to herself.
So again, anxiety, fear and depression.
All of those are signs.
Got cha.
I know all of that's on your website as well in terms of what
to look for, the resource you put behind it.
So I really appreciate you not only everything you're doing in
the community but obviously coming on the show and sharing
this information.
Thank you.
Thank you!
[theme music] ♪♪♪
You can see their red trucks,
their famous red trucks all over the Mid-South.
They literally wear their name on their sleeve.
I'm here with Patty Phelps of Phelps Security.
And you just recently celebrated 60 years.
So congratulations.
And give us a little of the history for Phelps Security.
Okay.
In 1953 my husband's father started the company.
And years later, my husband began involved and began to run
the company for his family.
But then my husband and I purchased the company.
We decided that we felt like we could make a good partnership.
So we collaborated and it's been great.
Our children haev watched the company grow over all of their
lifespan.
So they decided that they wanted to be involved.
So we have our three grown children working with us now.
So a third generation.
It is!
They've all been able to form their own ownership in it and
create their own destiny, which is really amazing to see.
So it's armed patrol.
It's unarmed patrol.
It's investigative services.
It's residential patrol.
Give us a snapshot of everything you do at Phelps Security.
Okay.
We..
Our main product is armed and unarmed security officers for
commercial entities, all types.
We do a little bit of everything.
Also, we have a security patrol service where clients come
together to share a patrol because they don't have that
need to have that standing officer on their property.
We also provide residential patrols.
We recommend communities have a concentrated patrol where one
officer actually roams in their neighborhood so they get to know
the home owners and their families and so on and so forth.
So you know we really cover a very broad spectrum.
We also have an investigative service division.
We have..
My husband and my son are both private investigators.
So we offer that as a back-up product also to our commercial
clients and our residential clients if there is something
that arises.
And one of the neat things is when you talk about the
residential area, you work a lot with neighborhood associations
and the neighborhood watches.
And basically what you've done, you've created this organization
called Big for Memphis.
It's an acronym -- Business Interest Group.
And you get together on a monthly basis.
And you bring in the colonels, the different precinct
commanders.
And they give a modified Blue Crush presentation.
I don't want to go in to detail because I want you to.
But explain Big for Memphis.
Okay.
Well big for Memphis is a give back that my husband and I
developed to try to do something good for our city.
We were privy to seeing Blue Crush presentations ourself
through our involvement with the police department and our
communities.
And so we felt like that that was something that other
business owners and even citizens of our city need to see
because it's very informational.
It really shows what our police department is doing for our city
and how crime is being fought and also how much improvment
there is in what's being done here by our police department.
So we developed this organization where once a month,
we started with three precinct colonels that came in.
And they come and give a Blue Crush presentation in which
shows, you know, that community what's going on.
And I think that the police department really thinks that
it's a good thing because now we've grown to six colonels of
nine.
So we have really the majority of the colonels participate in
this program once a month.
And we also bring in a speaker, either regarding a crime related
topic that we feel like needs to happen.
You know we've had representatives that came and
talked about, you know, school shootings and so on and so forth
when those things arise.
And people really want to know more.
We try to target what we feel like the community wants to know
and needs to know.
We also bring in other speakers that will bring out a topic that
shows something very positive going on in our city.
We have so many of those things happening.
And we like to highlight what good is happening so that we all
have good things to talk about to support our city.
That's a great segue.
Let's go ahead and show viewers exactly what we're talking about
with Big for Memphis.
Well Big for Memphis, it's a one stop shop for the business
owners.
And we feel like as colonels of the precinct,
we feel like given the business owners in one place under one
roof, we think that we can reach a larger audience instead of
going from one business to another.
But because Big has brought it in under one umbrella,
we can reach a large audience.
And that's what it's all about.
Before Big for Memphis came on the scene,
the colonels did not have a business group to go to.
We collaborated with Phelps Security for the Big of Memphis.
We get to meet the business owners who are part of our
stations.
And what we do, we give them the information that they need to
keep their business secure on a monthly basis.
So that gives us some perspective on Big for Memphis.
And one of the things that you gain in the media appreciation
for is the Blue Crush presentations.
And realizing how they're using statistical analysis to prevent,
curb crime but also too to get ahead of it.
So figuring out where all the crimes are happening and sending
those resources ahead of time to be able to curb it.
Very important to understand.
The thing that I like is you're taking all these tips,
you're taking all this information and then you're
pushing it out to the community.
What are some of the top tips?
Well one of the things that we learned is that we can do
something to reduce our crime rate ourselves.
The top crime in our statistics is theft for motor vehicle.
So if we just as citizens will take our things and stow them
away..
Stow it, don't show it is a big push that the police department
put out.
And we promote that every where we go.
Take your things.
Put them in your trunk at point A before you go to point B.
And don't have them in their car.
Before!
And don't go to a mall and shop and take things back to your car
and let everybody see you put them in there and then go back
in.
Don't leave coins, dollars, sunglasses,
definitely not laptops, cameras, G-P-S's out in your car where
people can see them because that's the biggest impact we
vcan have as citizens is to stow it and don't show it.
Because we report everything as a city.
And that's the other thing is you start realizing there's a
lot of numbers that goin to this.
But the reality is we report everything.
Where as larger cities, unless it's under $1000 -- or over
$1000, they're not going to report it.
So it throws it way off.
Anyway, so many amazing tips.
And the next thing to me that's really important is that you've
taken it from the information sharing phase to the action
phase.
So talk about scrubbing graffiti off a bridge.
Well, as we were al together and learning in Big for Memphis many
things, Dr. Janikowski pointed out to us that graffiti is a
sign that you're neighborhood is becoming ridden with crime.
So we all recognize that there was a railroad overpass at
Ridgeway and Park avenue that had a lot of graffiti on it that
was affecting businesses around there,
beginning to make the neighborhood not look as
premiere as it is.
We collaborated and everyone brought their resources in.
Some brought scissor lifts.
Some donated paint.
Some donated paint rollers.
And a lot of people donated their time.
The police department blocked off the traffic.
And we very excitingly had a day where we alleviated that
railroad bridge of any grafitti.
So when you drive by, you have a proud moment.
Absolutely.
That's right.
And so one of the other things, too,
that I think is really special for me is that you and your
family, Phelps Security as a whole,
were very instrumental in the Fallen Officer Memorial.
So Memphis Police Department Fallen Officer Memorial,
62 officers killed in the line of duty lost their lives
unfortunately.
And it's a million dollar project to honor them and their
service to our country and our city.
And so I just want to personally thank you because you not only
donate your time, your money but obviously,
too, pulling all of these resources together to help bring
it to fruition.
So thank you for everything you do in the community and thank
you for really coming on the show and sharing it.
Well thank you.
It's been an exciting thing to be involved in.
You know my husband was in the sheriff's department and it
could have been me, you know, that lost their husband in the
line of duty.
So it is an important project to us.
We appreciate the sacrifice that our officers make to protect our
families and our city that we live in.
Well I greatly appreciate you coming on the show and sharing
that.
Thank you.
[theme music] ♪♪♪
Formed in 1984, the Commission on Missing
Exploited Children, COMEC, is focused on the protection and
safety of all children here in the Mid-South.
I'm here with the executive director,
Sergeant Len Edwards, with COMEC.
And it's a collaborative agency.
It's a collaborative process.
Describe the collaborators.
It is.
The collaboration was formed in 1984 after a series of highly
publicized child disappearances.
The juvenile court of Memphis and Shelby County,
the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriffs'
Department all came together to assist in an effort to better
address the issues surrounding missing and exploited children.
And so as you can imagine, that's a very difficult area.
I mean there's a lot of specific expertise that goes in to
knowing where to look for them, how to interact with them,
what to deal with them.
And a lot of times, the police department,
they don't have the ability to focus on that.
So having an outside agency being able to add in those
resources, add in those expertise on both sides,
helping the law enforcement, but also too,
the family because that's a very scary situation.
I've got to imagine that's a very integral roll.
It is.
And I'll tell you that your child disappearing for whatever
reason is truly every parent's nightmare.
And having an agency that is able to provide technical
assistance and to assist smaller law enforcement agencies
throughout the state, in fact throughout the country and even
overseas.
We've assisted in cases all over the world.
So..
Wow!
One of the things, I think..
You know you do a lot of speaking out there in the
community.
And before I even get to that part,
describe the different things you do because it's so much.
It's drug testing.
It's child identification and I-D's.
It's counseling.
So there's a lot to it.
So what are the things that COMEC does?
Well the vast majority of my time is spent face-to-face with
children, with young people whether it's dependency and
neglect, whether its delenquency and working with kids and trying
to open lines of communication with their parents,
with the schools.
It's so important for these, for everyone involved to effectively
communicate with kids.
I call it raising digital children through analog eyes.
And I like the fact that just knowing you,
like, you don't wear a watch.
You don't go in when you sit down with kids and you don't
talk about time or anything like that.
We'll do whatever it takes but so much of you -- I call you the
child whisperer -- is focused on how can we kind of get to the
root of this but also, too, heal the family dynamic.
Right.
You know and often times what I see is that the emotion level is
so high, the anger, the frustration,
the anxiety.
And why I try to do is I try to diffuse the situation and open
up doors where they can walk through and better communicate
with their child or the child better communicate with the
parent.
You know someone asked me recently about the drug testing
program.
What does that got to do with missing children?
Well you know a child can be missing physically or they can
be missing mentally.
And a child that comes home from school,
goes to his room, slams his door,
doesn't come out until the next day is surely is missing as a
child that has been abducted.
So let's go ahead and let's take this opportunity about where I
carry this conversation.
Let's show viewers not only the importance of what COMEC does
but the impact that it can have on a family's life.
[dramatic music] ♪♪♪
So that gives us some personal perspective on
the power of COMEC.
One of the big topics that you're focused on is cyber
space, cyber bullying, cyber attacks.
Describe your focus on cyber space.
Well the first thing that I try to do is make people aware that
back in the old days when you were being bullied at school,
you could get away from it simply when the bell rang and
you went home.
Today in 2014, a child is subjected to that bullying 24-7.
It's electronic means.
It goes on in the night and it's everyday.
And the pressure that comes with that is tremendous on a child.
What's something that a parent can do?
When you talk about putting boundaries,
you know, in terms of their phones,
their access, the internet, what are some tips for parents?
Well I think parents need to realize one thing and that is
that that phone belongs to them, doesn't belong to the child.
You're paying the bill.
And I think you would no more take a child his first ride on a
bicycle without training wheels -- the same way with the
internet.
The child needs to sit down, needs to be aware of the dangers
that are out there and the fact that there are people that are
actively preying on them.
They're looking for contact information -- what school they
go to, what activities after school that they're involved in.
And so no, be aware.
Information is the key when it comes to your children and the
internet.
Tie that in to your focus on trafficking.
Well you know a lot of kids, their initial contact with a
trafficker has been made through the internet.
You know what they do is they look.
The predators look for the crack in the facade of the child and
they exploit that crack.
Basically, they convince the child that there's no harm,
that everything's fine, that there's a relationship.
And they coax the children for a face-to-face meeting.
And subsequently, often times they leave town.
So when you look at it, this is a very real and a very scary
subject matter.
For the parents, for the children,
for those that are watching..
Because obviously you deal with this.
This is your world.
What are some of the things?
I mean obviously it's open communication.
It's getting to know who you and your children are surrounding
themselves with.
It's setting boundaries.
It's love and compassion and creating that warmth and that
environment.
What are some of those top tips that you say hey,
look.
These are the things that you need to be doing that are gonna
make you safer and more protected?
Well the one thing I tell them is is that if grandma can't look
at it, don't post it because it's amazing.
This information will show up years and years down the road.
You know whether it's a photograph or whether it's a
comment or a statement, you know it's there forever.
And it's there for examination.
And sometimes the information is going to be misinterpreted or
twisted or used in an illegal way.
Well I love the fact that you're here.
I love the fact that you're a resource.
For those families that are struggling with this,
you're here for them.
Everything is totally for free out there which is huge.
So greatly appreciate everything you're doing in the community
and thanks for coming on the show.
Thank you, Jeremy.
[theme music] ♪♪♪
When it comes to safety and protecting yourself,
your family, friends and business,
knowledge and awareness are key.
As parents, we teach our children not to talk to
strangers and ask permission before going anywhere with
anyone.
We try to know the people around us and pay close attention when
doing things like walking to our cars or pumping gas.
Small things make a big difference,
like stowing your valuables in the trunk before you arrive at
your destination or making sure that your business and home are
well lit.
Being proactive by empowering our citizens to recognize the
warning signs of domestic violence and understand how to
reach out and ask for help are important.
I've lived in many different cities,
some very large and some small and they all have crime.
What matters the most though is how we as a community band
together and respond.
So thank you for watching "The Spark."
To learn more about each of the guests and interact and hear
stories of others leading by example,
visit The-Spark-TV-dot-org.
We look forward to seeing you next month.
We hope that you'll join with us in creating a spark for the
Mid-South.
Just like having the right information is necessary to make
solid hiring and lending decisions,
being engaged in our community is important.
Data Facts is proud to support the positives and be a
presenting sponsor of "The Spark."
State Systems is focused on protecting life and property.
As a local privately owned company,
our foundation was built on providing all businesses with
complete fire security protection and infrastructure
cabling.
State Systems is proud to be a part of the Mid-South community
and a presenting sponsor of "The Spark."
Lipscomb and Pitts Insurance has been serving the Mid-South since
1954.
We have always focused on supporting our community and
believe in promoting the positives,
encouraging engagement and leading by example.
Lipscomb and Pitts is proud to be a presenting sponsor of "The
Spark."
[theme music] ♪♪♪
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WKNO-MEMPHIS.