POUGHKEEPSIE – The Family and Human Services Committee of the Dutchess County Legislature approved the appointment of two individuals to serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence. The full legislature will vote on the two nominees during the February 13 meeting of the board.
Dutchess County District Attorney Special Victims Unit (SVU) Bureau Chief Angela Lopane is nominated to serve as the DA’s representative on the committee. Prosecutor Lopane has more than a decade of experience in prosecuting child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other heinous crimes, having served in the SVU from 2002 to 2013, before moving to the narcotics unit. Appointed SVU Bureau Chief by Dutchess DA Anthony Parisi earlier this year, Lopane is responsible for assisting survivors of domestic and sexual violence and child abuse throughout Dutchess County. Lopane has been nominated to the domestic violence committee to replace the vacancy created when Senior Assistant DA Kristine Whelan left the DA’s office in January.
Former Dutchess County Legislator Donna Bolner, who served 14 years on the lawmaking body has been nominated to the domestic violence committee to serve as the “Citizen Representative”. Bolner is a professional educator and served as the legislative liaison between the Citizens Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence and the legislature during her tenure.
“Domestic violence destroys the community from the inside out,” County DA Anthony Parisi said about the appointment of Lopane as SVU Chief. “We must try to do our part to restore safety for those who have been traumatized by this violence today so we can try to create healthy families and communities for tomorrow.”
Legislature Chairman Will Truitt said that like the other advisory committees, the Citizens Advisory Committee on Domestic Violence is a very important committee. “We have people who are very involved in our community and understand public safety that are serving here, and who are ensuring that we are doing all that we can to make our families safe here in Dutchess County.”
