VAN BUREN, Ark. — The Van Buren Police Department has opened a new soft interview room, meant to provide victims of trauma a place that's comfortable and safe.
The idea arrived at the department through Sergeant Kylie Ardemagni. The newly promoted officer had signed up for training in Little Rock's Criminal Justice Institute. That's where she came across the idea through Project Beloved. She explained that they help install soft interview rooms, but they had a waitlist.
"I put in the proposal. And unfortunately, the budget didn't quite work for it last year. But with everything, you know, we get a new budget every year," Sgt Ardemagni said.
Sgt. Ardemagni said the idea was so simple yet made sense. She took into account the regular interview rooms the department uses, which she explains consists of hard chairs, a table, carpeted walls, and bright fluorescent lighting.
"Interviewing people, and especially interviewing victims, it never really made sense that we were interviewing them in the same space, just because that's two different people. That's someone who has caused trauma and someone who is the victim of trauma," Sgt. Ardemagni said.
Part owner and therapist Nick Keet said The Forging Place was privileged to work with the Van Buren Police Department in critical incident debriefs through vicarious trauma. The new soft interview room at the police department employs the same idea as the spaces in his office.
"When we are in an environment that is non-threatening, it's a lot easier for us to let our minds relax and be calm and to talk about the things that are important because we're less guarded," Keeter said.
Melissa Huff is a therapist working at The Forging Place. She explained that in her interactions with patients, trust is necessary. She believes the room will help build that trust between investigators and victims.
"I think it's especially important for people that have been victims of an incident. They have already been through so much. And I think when you have experienced an incident, you feel out of control, and you kind of feel like all these things have happened to you, and people are doing things to you, and now you're going through the legal system," Huff explained.
It's not just a room that's connecting the community servants. In recent years, the pandemic and other factors have brought mental health to the forefront of everything.
"Six years ago, when you would go to the doctor and you would fill out your questionnaire, you know, for new patient, it would have heart disease [and other questions]. Now, the first four or five questions on every screening is about mental health," Keeter said.
Just freshly installed Thursday, Sgt. Ardemagni hopes it's a space continuing to connect mental health to policing while also helping them better serve their community.
Sgt. Ardemagni believes a soft interview room could be beneficial to all police departments regardless of size. When not being used to interview victims, Van Buren police plan to use it themselves in their peer support program.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.