LACASA Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for victims of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual violence, has accepted Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy’s voluntary resignation from its Board of Directors.
In his notice to the board, Sheriff Murphy said he made this decision because he did not want to cloud the important work LACASA does, given the controversy over his decision to host former President Donald Trump at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
“As a board member for close to 25 years, I have always been an advocate for LACASA using my time, talents, and money to help where I could,” Murphy said. “I have never intentionally or unintentionally done anything to hurt the organization, and it’s unfortunate some can’t see that.”
In a statement, LACASA Board Chair Patricia Claffey says the important work that takes place at the agency continues uninterrupted.
“For more than 40 years, LACASA has provided a safe and supportive environment for victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual violence, and a place where they are believed, trusted, and empowered,” Claffey said. “We thank Sheriff Murphy for his service to our organization, and will continue to work closely with him and his staff as our law enforcement partners.”
LACASA President & CEO Bobette Schrandt said LACASA has worked diligently to cultivate a solid working relationship with local law enforcement, which will continue unchanged. She stressed that LACASA will always keep the voices of victims and survivors at the forefront.
“We are proud of our unwavering commitment to advocate for survivors,” Schrandt said. “We thank Sheriff Murphy for the years he spent on our board, and for recognizing that there is no room for distraction from our critical mission.”
