LA County District Attorney Hochman yesterday swore in a Labrador retriever, a standard poodle, and a border collie/poodle mix as the newest members of the office’s elite K-9 victim services unit (VSU).
The three pooches – Miata, Johnnie, and Corbin – will hit the hard-scrabble streets of Los Angeles to support crime victims, primarily children, in all 14 courthouses in Los Angeles County.
Specifically, the furry-faced mongrels have been trained to support victims of sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking; people with disabilities; and family members of homicide victims.
“These four-legged friends support victims as they provide testimony critical in many successful prosecutions. Just being able to pet a kind and calming canine can give strength to a witness who stands and testifies in court against their offender,” said Hochman.
Since the launch of the K-9 VSU in 2017, the teams have supported more than 1,625 victims and witnesses, ranging in age from 6 to 78. In addition to their duties at county courthouses, the teams support children at child advocacy centers, which conduct forensic interviews.
Two-thirds of the victims the unit supports are children.
To date, the K-9 teams have provided support and assistance to child and adult victims at:
- 700+ preliminary hearings and trials
- 82 sentencings where victims/survivors made impact statements
- 55 interviews of children for filing considerations
- 80+ meetings with prosecutors and child victims to prepare for preliminary hearings or trial
The unit also offers care to child witnesses of traumatic events, such as cases involving severe family violence or sexual abuse.
From 2017 to 2019, the unit provided support and comfort to over 100 human trafficking victims, all minors, at Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park.
LADA’s K-9 teams also have a first responders unit, which has responded to six mass casualty shootings to provide trauma-informed assistance to victims, witnesses, and their loved ones.
In October 2017, the K-9 teams responded to the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, where 60 people were killed and 413 people were injured. Most of those impacted were California residents. For 10 days, LADA’s K-9 Unit provided emotional support to victims, family members, nurses, and other first responders.
After the Jan. 21, 2023, shooting at a ballroom dance studio in Monterey Park, LADA’s K-9 team was there to provide support and comfort to victims. Eleven people were killed, nine others were physically injured, and more than 55 experienced emotional trauma while fleeing for their lives.
As requested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, the K-9 team sat in on death notifications to next of kin and comforted family members in their time of need.
“These K-9s are heroes of the DA’s Office, providing immeasurable strength and support to children and other vulnerable victims as they navigate the criminal justice system in the aftermath of horrific, life-altering crimes,” said Hochman.
“We extend a heartfelt welcome to Miata, Johnnie and Corbin as they begin their career at LADA, ensuring our office can offer this invaluable service to crime victims for years to come.”
