The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn has recently announced the appointment of a veteran detective of the New York Police Department to the diocesan Office of Protection of Children and Young People.
Veteran’s New Appointment
In an article from the Brooklyn Paper, the appointment for the diocesan office was publicly announced on Sept. 30, Friday, as reported.
The appointee, Elizabeth Harris, is a retired detective, a 21-year veteran of the NYPD, who will be supervising the provision of support and resources to the victims who suffered sexual abuse from the clergy members of the diocese.
This will reportedly be through the Office of Victim Assistance of the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Also, Harris will be responsible for monitoring the former priests who have been removed from the priesthood. As well as the church as its 1722 Supervisor, as mentioned.
New Appointee
As per the same source, Harris served in the NYPD department’s sex offender monitoring unit for four years.
She reportedly investigated the child sexual abuse cases and interviewed some of its victims during her service at the Manhattan Child Abuse Squad for 12 years.
Moreover, she also worked for The Safe Center of Long Island as a Director of Forensic Services after she retired from the NYPD.
In a statement from the news source, Harris was excited to share her experience with the diocese and be part of its mission to help the victims of sexual abuse, as reported.
She was also proud to take part in the movement of the diocese to get rid of the sexual abuse cases and protect the children.
Thus, she commended the commitment of the Brooklyn Catholic bishop, Robert Brennan, and the diocese to their fight against sexual abuse.
Bishop Brennan was thankful for Harris sharing her expertise with the diocese to strengthen their initiatives in giving a safe environment to the place.
“I am grateful she is now sharing her expertise with the Diocese to assist us in this most important mission,” he said.
About Office of Protection of Children and Young People
Based on its press release, the Diocese of Brooklyn has created the Office of Protection of Children and Young People to reportedly increase the protection of the environment for the youth.
The new office will supervise various offices, including the Safe Environment Office, the Office of Victim Assistance Ministry, and the new 1722 Supervisor.
On Nov. 5, 2021, Jasmine Salazar, a licensed master social worker, was appointed as the diocesan office’s director.
She was the former Victim Assistance Coordinator and Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese of Brooklyn before she was named as the director.
According to the Brooklyn Paper, in 2019, almost 600 people reportedly filed lawsuits against the diocese for alleged sexual abused cases after the state passed the Child Victims Act.
Additionally, the former Brooklyn bishop, Nicholas Dimarzio, was also accused of sexual abuse by two parishioners when they were children but was eventually cleared.
However, his alleged victims said that the investigation of the church was ‘biased and incomplete,’ as reported.
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