BOSTON, April 29, 2016—As Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to a close, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today thanked police chiefs across Suffolk County for partnering in efforts to honor survivors of child abuse.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes, Revere Police Chief Joseph Cafarelli, and Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty were among the local leaders who joined Conley in a social media campaign highlighting the bravery and resilience of children and adult survivors who disclosed abuse and assisted police and prosecutors in holding the offenders accountable. Most of those survivors obtained critical support from the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County, which connects victims and their loving caregivers with law enforcement, social services, clinical care, and more.

Each day of April, Conley’s office posted images of a local leader posing with an image from the office’s groundbreaking photo exhibit, “Now You See: A Celebration of Courageous Kids.”  Each image in the nationally-recognized collection depicts the eyes of a survivor of child sexual or physical abuse and their caretakers or family members, along with the person’s own words of encouragement and strength to other children and families who have suffered abuse.

Not only did the chiefs agree to take part in the campaign raising awareness of child abuse and exploitation, each displayed the image prominently in his office for the entire month of April.

Through the campaign, Evans and members of the Boston Police Department showed support for “Chanel,” who was physically abused by her adoptive mother and sexually abused by another member of her adoptive family.  As an adult survivor, Chanel testified against the man who abused her, helping lead to a conviction at trial.

Kyes showed his support for survivors by posing with an image of “Mariana,” who was sexually exploited as a young teen.  At the time she took part in the Now You See exhibit at age 15, she had found the strength to spread a message of hope to other victims.

Cafarelli showed his support for “Josh,” who was sexually abused by a family member for several years beginning at age 13; he went on to testify twice at trial.  Through Now You See, Josh encouraged other kids to speak up if they have been harmed.

Winthrop detectives joined Delehanty in honoring victims “Odette” and “Tanya.” Odette was sexually abused by an uncle at age 12 and Tanya by her father at age 9.  Both girls found the courage to speak in court about the abuse.

“These images are a reminder to all of us in law enforcement of why we do this work.  Our most fundamental goal isn’t to make an arrest or to win a conviction, but to help and protect the most innocent and vulnerable among us.  I would like to thank Commissioner William Evans and Chiefs Brian Kyes, Joseph Cafarelli, and Terence Delehanty for their help in highlighting the importance of this mission,” Conley said.

Among the other individuals who took part in the Now You See campaign were House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz, other members of law enforcement, and leaders of businesses, non-profits, and city and state agencies.

To learn more about “Now You See,” visit http://www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com/now-you-see/.

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