Enea Donates to Child Abuse Unit

Harry Enea of Enea Family Funeral Homes made a donation to the Herkimer County Multidisciplinary Team on Tuesday with the money going toward new medical equipment to help investigate sexual and severe physical child abuse.

Child abuse is considered anything that endangers the development, security or survival of anyone under the age of 18. Last year, the HCMDT saw 181 abused children in Herkimer County.

The HCMDT is an investigation unit that ensures uniform handling of cases of alleged sexual and severe physical abuse of children. The team consists of a variety of organizations and police departments. Members include, Catholic Charities, Dolgeville Police, Family Services of the Mohawk Valley, Frankfort Town Police, Frankfort village police, the Herkimer County District Attorney's Office, Herkimer police, state police, Little Falls Hospital, Herkimer County Department of Social Services, Ilion police, Little Falls police, Mohawk police, Webb police and the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley.

"I just think it's the greatest thing we've done in law enforcement... to help children," said Richard Congdon, Dolgeville School Resource Officer. "For everybody at one time to be able to work together, in my history of law enforcement, I think it's the greatest thing. Now the child doesn't have to go through several different interviews."

The philosophy behind the organization is that it would be easier and more comfortable for victims to go through the process of interviews, medical examinations, counseling and so forth, if it was to happen in one place, with a small team.

In 2001, the Herkimer County District Attorney's Office and the Herkimer County Department of Social Services asked the YWCA to be the lead agency in the formation of the HCMDT. Services provided are forensic interviews, medical evaluations, therapeutic intervention, victim support advocacy, case review and case tracking. It happens under one roof.

"They asked me if I would be interested in donating," Enea said. "It's such a wonderful program and I didn't hesitate."

What makes the organization so beneficial, said District Attorney John Crandall, is that the HCMDT has access to reports that have not been filed with his office or may have been filed in another county.

"That's important," Crandall said.