Det./Sgt. Tabitha Turnacliff

ESCANABA — Meet Tabitha Turnacliff, one of the directors on the Child Advocacy Center’s Board of Director.

Turnacliff, a Det./Sgt. for Escanaba Public Safety, is a beacon of hope for children who’ve been abused or neglected. With a steadfast commitment to their well-being, she works tirelessly to ensure that young victims are not only heard, but also have the proper support in place to heal. Turnacliff’s dedication to justice and compassion makes her a vital advocate for the most vulnerable in the community.

When asked why the CAC is important to her, and Turnacliff said the organization is a resource that allows law enforcement to better advocate for children.

“p1″>”The CAC is an important and much-needed resource because they can help ensure the child’s disclosure is not further victimized by collaborating with all agencies involved in the investigation. Not all officers are trained in forensic interviewing, and this allows the trained experts to interview the child in an environment that is less traumatic than going to a police station. The CAC has resources law enforcement cannot provide that are important to the child victim for recovery from trauma suffered through their victimization,” she said.

“The CAC offers support and advocacy to the child and family from the time the interview is scheduled through the judicial process. For cases that don’t go through the judicial process, they continue to assist in helping the child victim cope with their experience with the resources they have available to them, such as counseling and support. Children are a precious gift, and we should use every resource available to advocate for them,” Turnacliff concluded.