Dana Packard: 25 Years of Impact as Victims’ Advocate
“When people have support, it helps empower the victim to reclaim their independence and move forward in their journey. Love shouldn’t hurt and home should be safe.”
— Dana Packard, Community Services Administrator, Palm Bay Police Department.
For 25 years, Community Services Administrator Dana Packard has led the Palm Bay Police Department’s Victim’s Services Unit. The first of its kind in Brevard County, the unit responds alongside law enforcement to domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent person crime cases so victims have someone there right away to inform them of their rights.
The Palm Bay Police Department is extremely proud of the program, which started in 1998 with just Packard and one other victim advocate. At first, they only responded to domestic violence cases, but as the program grew and added team members, they now respond to all violent crimes. Packard currently leads a team of two additional full-time victim’s advocates and five volunteers.
They have assisted neighboring municipalities in bringing their own victim’s services in-house because they have found it to be so powerful.
“Immediately in our city, it reduced recidivism at the same residences,” Packard said. “It increased shelter admission significantly because people were getting information, transportation, and all the things they needed to be able to go to a shelter if that is what they chose to do. It also helped increase successful prosecutions at the state attorney’s office because there were advocates that kept the victims engaged in the process.”
Over the years, the department has partnered with Zonta Club of Melbourne, a member of Zonta International, a worldwide service organization dedicated to helping educate the public about domestic violence and human trafficking.
“We share the same mission,” Packard said. “Zonta is trying to make sure that anyone who is victimized has the support and resources to successfully overcome the situation and rebuild on a solid foundation. We work together mutually in outreach to try to educate the public about domestic violence and what they can do to prevent it, how they can access resources, and what we have in our county that is available to help people.”
Packard said one way we can help is by normalizing the conversation and ending the stigma that often comes with domestic violence.
“Nobody apologizes about being burglarized, nobody is embarrassed to tell their friends and family that someone broke into their house or their vehicle,” Packard said. “But there is still a stigma attached to domestic violence.”
Packard and her team at the Palm Bay PD will assist anyone who contacts them — no one will be turned away even if they don’t live within city limits. Victims do not need to be ready to file a law enforcement report in order to get assistance, and everything is confidential.
After 25 years working to support local victims, Packard said she still finds satisfaction in helping other women.
“It’s really rewarding,” she said. “And it is an absolute honor to help somebody through their worst moments to come out on the other side and have a brighter future for themselves and their children.”
Connect
Palm Bay Police Department Victim’s Advocacy Program
321-953-8998
24-hour line: 321-952-3456, option 1, then option 0.
Email: VictimServices@pbfl.org
Website: https://www.palmbayflorida.org/government/city-departments-f-to-z/police/requests-services/victim-witness-services
Zonta Club of Melbourne:
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