MILFORD, PA — Pike County officials worked toward the solution of one problem on February 1, but left two other new ones still unresolved.

A resolution for children involved in abuse cases came following the commissioners’ motion to create and staff a new position and District Attorney Raymond Tonkin’s explanation. The new position, that of a forensic interviewer and multi-disciplinary investigative team (MDIT) coordinator, will mean that children in these cases, who may have had to undergo separate interviews by human services, police and prosecutors in past, will now only need to speak with one specially trained interviewer.

Along with social services, police and prosecutors, the team is completed by a medical practitioner. “Pediatricians with special training and experience in child abuse are the desirable providers of forensic medical exams. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) with special training in pediatrics and experience under the supervision of a pediatrician may also provide forensic medical exams,” according to the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at the University of Pennsylvania, which developed the program structure.

Tonkin said a nurse examiner is still being sought for the program. “We’re working on it,” however “I wanted to move on this in any event.”

Child victims may still be called on to testify in a court case, but in terms of the investigation the MDIT will greatly simplify the victim’s ordeal. Interviews are recorded on video and audio and monitored by other law enforcement people in a second room. For the child, “It’s one person in the room, one day, one session,” Tonkin said.

The PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) funds creation of regional children’s advocacy centers (CACs) and training of MDITs under the Field Center’s procedure. PCCD funding originated in a U.S. Justice Department grant, supplemented by fines levied on Penn State University in connection with the Sandusky abuse case within the Penn State football program.

Pike’s new interviewer, Molly Carson, was formerly employed at Milford’s Safe Haven, and has a background in social work, Tonkin said.

Commissioners defend free speech

A second issue last week was an incident amid 60 to 70 marchers during the local Milford version of the national Women’s March on January 21.

Linda Peters said a group of silent marchers, organized by the Milford Democratic Club, were accosted by a man near the Milford Diner. Closely approaching one woman he shouted a series of foul epithets at her, which Peters repeated and we can’t print. “What’s your vision about this behavior?” she asked the commissioners.

“It’s absolutely reprehensible and disgusting,” Commissioner Rich Caridi said. “I served this country to protect your right to protest.”

“What makes it worse is that he [she didn’t name the man] is a part-time school-bus driver. He’s around kids,” Peters added.

Miesje Jolly supported Peters’ account. “I was right behind the people when it happened. I was shocked by the verbal abuse. The individual got into the woman’s private space,” she said.

Peters said Milford wasn’t a friendly place two weeks ago, “We can disagree about politics, but if the other side is aggressive, it’s scary and intimidating… We want to mend fences and be sure we’re all welcome here,” she said.

Solicitor Tom Farley apologized for the lack of a police presence. “We’re a small county. We’re overwhelmed.” He recommended that their group notify the police ahead of time before their next demonstration.

Commissioner Steve Guccini saw a connection to other larger issues. “Unless you’ve been under a rock, you can see what’s going on nationally. The idea of peaceful protest is part of the American fabric,” he said.

“The key word is respect,” Jolly said.

“Something we seem to have lost,” Caridi responded.

Complaint about news story

Lastly, the commissioners had their own media complaint, as little Pike was pulled into the national immigration debate. Pike appeared on a map with some 300 immigration “sanctuary” cities, counties and states prepared by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a right-leaning, Washington DC think tank.

A Monroe County daily paper picked up the CIS inclusion and printed it, but noted that the CIS list was not official and Pike’s status remained unclear.

 The paper also reported that none of the commissioners were available for comment on the January 28 story, but they heard about it later.

With Donald Trump’s promise to cut federal funding for sanctuary municipalities in mind, Caridi complained, “Why are we a sanctuary county and losing funds… We comply (with Immigration [ICE]).”

He said Commissioner Matt Osterberg had called the newspaper to deny the designation.

Guccini and Caridi both called CIS to get an explanation of the listing, but neither has received a return call.

“It’s troubling,” Guccini said, “Someone puts things online and it’s accepted as gospel.”