Along with our community, SARCC, Representatives from the Tamaqua Borough, and the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership learned of the arrest of officer Chris Cordes of the Tamaqua Police Department yesterday.
Each of these community partners have been working for the last 18 months with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation to implement a Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative with the Tamaqua Police Department.
Sexual assault, abuse, harassment, and child sexual exploitation materials are common and widespread in our community. This arrest and the investigation that will follow serve as a reminder that our community must be vigilant and informed about the signs and symptoms of sexual violence. Sexual violence is a crime that affects people in all neighborhoods, professions, income levels, and identities.
Quality sexual assault investigations and supportive victim services have the power to transform our community, increase willingness to report, and capacity to hold offenders a sexual violence accountable.
While learning of the arrest is disappointing and can bring challenges for both sexual assault survivors, and the people working to help them in the community, it reminds us to double down on our efforts.
Any member of the Tamaqua community can reach out to speak with a sexual assault counselor 24 hours a day seven days a week by calling 570-628-2965. No cost counseling, supportive services, advocacy, and trauma therapy are available to any survivor in our community.
