On a morning marked by two separate acts of violence — an elderly woman killed during a walk and a couple gunned down inside a grocery store hours later — Trauma Intervention Program volunteers quietly stepped in to help those left reeling.
On West Rochelle Avenue, where police say Devion Teague shot Hester Johnson after demanding her and her friend’s belongings just after 5:45 a.m. Tuesday, volunteers comforted witnesses to the killing, which unfolded on a neighborhood sidewalk.
Across the valley, gunfire broke out in aisle four of a Smith’s grocery store at 9750 S. Maryland Parkway around 11:30 a.m. Trauma Intervention Program volunteers were dispatched within minutes.
“The quicker they’re able to respond out to the scene, the faster we’re able to start providing support,” the organization’s Executive Director Jill Roberts said.
Respond case-by-case
When they arrive, volunteers assist people experiencing a range of impacts after a traumatic incident, Roberts said. Those who saw the shooting may react differently from those who just heard gunshots in the business suite next door, though both may be shaken.
“Everyone is impacted,” Roberts said. “There are also people in the community who weren’t there but shop at that store, and they’re affected because they’re thinking, ‘What if I were there, or am I safe going to the grocery store in the future?’”
Volunteer Jessi Sonson, who has been with the organization for four years, said that because trauma affects everyone differently, volunteers are trained to respond on a case-by-case basis.
So, on Tuesday afternoon, two volunteers remained at the grocery store after the shooting, listening as employees and customers verbally processed what had happened. Some employees cried, while others stood expressionless, lingering around the KFC next door, where police interviewed witnesses.
Meanwhile, another volunteer accompanied authorities who notified the next of kin after victims Amanda Frias Rosas, 40, and Victor Frias Rosas were pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our job is to triage the people that are in front of us and see how we can best assist them as they’re working through their impact,” Sonson said.
‘Reminds people they are not alone’
The group’s 55 volunteers include medical professionals, UNLV students and retirees.
After completing a 36-hour training academy focused on providing comfort to people in crisis, volunteers begin responding to calls, from homicides to sudden natural deaths, overdoses and fatal crashes.
The organization’s law enforcement and first-responder partners include the Metropolitan, North Las Vegas and Henderson police departments, and local fire agencies.
Last year, the volunteers responded to 1,966 calls throughout the valley, continuing a decades-long trend of year-over-year increases.
In an emailed statement, Metro said that the organization is there for people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“Their presence reminds people they are not alone,” a Metro spokesperson said. “Together, LVMPD and TIP work to ensure our community receives not only protection and service, but also humanity, dignity, and support when it is needed most.”
‘Bridge between the crisis and stability’
After seeing firsthand the care trauma volunteers provided during high-stress incidents, Henderson Police Chief Scott Vivier partnered with Roberts about a dozen years ago to create a specialized class for first responders, law enforcement and victim advocates.
The class, called E-TIP, teaches emotional first aid — practical skills participants can use as medical crews, patrol officers, dispatchers and more. It is offered monthly, with attendance covered in recent years by grants and donations, according to Vivier.
“The classes teach how to create a caring connection with people who are in the immediate midst of a crisis,” Vivier said. “Following a traumatic event, people often feel hopeless, confused, and they’re in emotional shock. They can be confronted with a situation they’re totally unprepared for, so we give people the tools they need to be a bridge between the crisis and stability.”
Since its inception, more than 1,000 students — including police officers, firefighters and staff from SafeNest, Clark County Social Services and Red Rock Search and Rescue — have completed the E-TIP program.
‘Desperately need’ more volunteers
Roberts said that, despite downward homicide trends in the valley, each year the organization receives more requests, which she attributes to greater visibility to emergency responders who know when to call.
The organization graduated seven new volunteers last week and will launch its next academy in July.
“We’re hoping for a good number of people because we desperately need it,” Roberts said.
Kate Gorski, a volunteer of 17 years, said the program has taught her to value presence over trying to fix the situation. She said it has made her a better friend and listener.
She and Sonson said that, when they tell people about the group, they often respond by saying that they are unfit for the job because they would not know what to say to someone who is grieving.
“As much as it goes against our instincts, we can’t try to fix what they’re going through and instead just let them know we’re here,” Gorski said. “No matter how they’re reacting — whether they’re crying or not, reacting or not — whatever they’re feeling is right for them in that moment, so you just be there to validate it.”
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
