CIU Is In The Market For a New Vehicle

The Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) is a first responder group comprised of volunteers and staff.  They are called out by law enforcement officers upon request to respond to the needs of victims, and to help coordinate with other social service organizations. If victims are without transportation or just in need of support after a crime has taken place CIU fills in the gaps, a big part of that being transportation.

CIU’s only vehicle is 15 years old, and is not in the best of shape. In fact, they have been using a Ford Expedition that county attorney investigators were able to hand down as a loaner. However, the height of that vehicle makes it difficult for disabled, elderly and height challenged persons to maneuver in and out of.

Yesterday morning, Commissioners Court accepted a $15,543 grant from the San Angelo Health Foundation that contributes to the purchase of a vehicle more suiting to victim’s needs.

“They use that vehicle for transporting the victims down to the family shelter,” Tom Best, President of SAHF said. “Or whatever the occasion calls for, it is an important tool. They were using a borrowed vehicle for a long time; we made up the difference so they can buy a new vehicle.”

Rita Guthrie, CIU Coordinator, has been working on raising the funds for the purchase of the vehicle for about a year now, and couldn’t be happier the goal has been achieved.

“The City of San Angelo is providing $5,000 and the county is providing $5,000, and my volunteers raised $5,000 in garage sales,” Guthrie said. “We just found out last week that we got the grant, and so we are moving forward, we are trying to get a Ford Flex or something similar to that. [Something] low to the ground that has a long wheel base and three rows of seats. We are very excited.”

According to Guthrie, CIU only uses one vehicle which stays parked at the sheriff’s office when it’s not in use. Even though they have acquired all of the funding at this time, the actual purchase won’t be for another few months or so due to formalities.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the SAHF for providing the other funds so we can get a new vehicle that is appropriate for all of our victims that we transport,” Guthrie said.