For years, those victims have been taken to either San Antonio or Val Verde County to be examined, often times transported in a police unit.
Locally, the community does not count with any specialized and trained individuals (SANE Nurses) to assist sexual assault victims.
Olivares states that this is a problem that needs to be corrected, and soon. “This just adds to the traumatic experience these individuals are going through and that is not acceptable,” stated Olivares.
The Maverick County Hospital District Board of Trustees wholeheartedly agree and are looking to fix this issue.
This very issue has been addressed in the past. Back in 2017 Eagle Pass Chief of Police Albert Guajardo presented certain information to the Eagle Pass City Council regarding the fact that the community does not count with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (S.A.N.E Nurse).
Guajardo addressed the problem and sought the council’s approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the EPPD and Methodist Health Care System San Antonio, Ltd, L.L.P. for Forensic Nurse Examiner Services.
The Eagle Pass City Council approved Chief Guajardo’s request. Guajardo stated that the MOU was part of the process in which the Police Department would transport victims to either Val Verde, Santa Rosa or Methodist Hospital as determined by FDRMC, who was in charge of that determination.
“We then transport the victim to the hospital that is designated to do the examination,” stated Guajardo.
Chief Guajardo back then addressed that the community had a problem with sexual assault cases on the rise.
“Unfortunately we do have a crisis in our community not just in the city but the county as well. Unfortunately, we don’t have a S.A.N.E. Nurse. Hopefully, we can in the near future approach the issue and fix it.”
“I believe so. We need to approach the hospital board and see how they can assist because of these reasons, we have to transport the victim 2 1/2 hours and make them go through a lengthy process after what they have already gone through. If we have a nurse here, trained in that field, we can eliminate that traveling process that can be very turbulent and traumatic to the victims.” stated Guajardo in 2017.
At some point in time, the Hospital did count with a specialized nurse to perform the required examinations. That individual eventually transferred out of the area.
The MCHD is now seeking to fix this problem.