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WHAT IS ASHTON’S ROOM

Ashton’s Room is an innovative partnership between the Police Department and the Lewisville Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association (LCPAAA) that provides a welcoming, comforting, and safe space for children (guests) who are in the temporary care of the Lewisville Police Department. Guests are cared for by a trained and certified group of on-call team of volunteers who will come to the PD and care for the guests on-site. This allows officers the freedom to handle other case related responsibilities.

 

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Amenities included in Ashton’s Room

• Officer workstation with computer and phone

• Security Cameras - audio and video

• Comfortable couch, folds out for sleeping

• Changing table for infants and toddlers

• Television (in cabinet) with Disney, Netflix, & Prime

• Refrigerator, drinks, and snacks

• Hot meals provided by community partner restaurants

• Toys and Activities (sorted by age)

• Clothing including underwear and socks (5 sizes)

• Diapers and wipes (assorted sizes)

• Bottles, formula, pacifiers

• Blankets (children can take a blanket with them)

• Stuffed animals (children can take one with them)

• Team of trained and certified volunteers to provide childcare

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History of Ashton's Room

In early August 2018, Officer Anderson Rock proposed creating a room at the police department dedicated to providing care for children who are in the temporary care of our officers. The Lewisville Police Department partnered with the Lewisville Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association (LCPAAA) to move forward with plans for creation of a comforting and welcoming space for children in the secure part of the police department

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On August 19, 2018, 16-month-old Ashton Reyn was murdered. Officers who responded to the call were greatly impacted by what most say is the worst call of their career.  Almost immediately we knew the room for children would be called “Ashton’s Room’.

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Thanks in part to an anonymous donation, the LCPAAA began working to design and decorate Ashton’s Room. Zach Pennington volunteered to paint the mural which contains an ash tree in remembrance of Ashton.  The custom copper ash tree sign for Ashton’s Room was custom made for us and generously donated by a Lewisville artist.  

​Three pictures hanging on the wall were donated by an officer who responded to the call on August 19, 2018, and are identical to the original pictures that were hanging in Ashton’s bedroom.

Who supervises "guests" of Ashton's Room?

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Officers may use Ashton’s Room without activating the Volunteer Response Team. If a volunteer team member is requested the volunteer takes over care of the child/ren as soon as they arrive at the department. The officer will take care of other case related responsibilities and will occasionally check in on the volunteer and guest. Volunteers are an on-call team of trained and certified volunteers drawn from our LCPAAA membership. Each volunteer is certified in adult and infant CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). The volunteers undergo a background check, mental health screening and must interview with a panel of Lewisville Police Department officers. Additional background checks are conducted twice a year.

Ashton's room has provided a safe space for over 150 children since it's inception!

How can I help with Ashton's Room?

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To become a volunteer, you must be accepted into our Citizen Police Academy and successfully complete that program. Upon graduation, you must join our Lewisville Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and be active for a minimum of six months. Volunteers are selected from the LCPAAA and must undergo a rigorous vetting process prior to having access to children.We enjoy a generous partnership with Valley Creek Church who have supported Ashton’s Room from the very inception. Valley Creek Church provides a continuing donation of consumable goods, including food, diapers and wipes.

The LCPAAA has also set up registries with Amazon and Walmart for anyone wishing to contribute to the LCPAAA’s efforts.

How to open your own Ashton's Room

We are pleased to provide this introductory information to any law enforcement agency or CPAAA organization interested in adopting the Ashton’s Room model for caring for children in your agency.  Our team is happy to answer any questions and provide more detailed information.  We would be pleased to travel to your department to provide a more thorough presentation and assist with identifying how to implement this program in your department.

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Dedication

On September 17, 2019, the Lewisville Police Department, LCPAAA and Ashton’s mother officially dedicated and opened Ashton’s Room.

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The most beautiful thing in the world is a child's smile.  The next best thing is knowing you are the reason behind it.
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