Newburgh City Council approved to receive a donation for a new soft interview room for the City of Newburgh Police Department from Project Beloved. This interview room type will be a first for the city police department as well as a first of its kind in the State of New York, according to Police Commissioner José Gomérez.

The concept and purpose of a soft interview room is that it is an interview room specifically for those who have been the victims of sexual abuse, rape or other sensitive matters. Types of furniture, color schemes of the room and materials are carefully selected to be incorporated in this type of room. Commissioner Gomérez also thanked Department of Public Works Superintendent George Garrison for his assistance in creating this room.

Project Beloved, founded by Tracy Matheson, is a non-profit organization that assists victims of sexual abuse and violence, provides resources and instills empowerment for survivors. The organization was founded following Matheson’s daughters death where she was raped and strangled.

According to Commissioner Gomérez, the materials are moveable and the council also re-emphasized to the commissioner that the council and executive staff are working to seek an alternative building for city hall and the police department to move to.