July 20, 2023, Reply Follow-up Letter to Utah Office for Crime Victims Director Gary Scheller

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "John McMillan" <mcmillanj@att.net>

To: "garys@utah.gov" <garys@utah.gov>, "sfarver@weber.edu" <sfarver@weber.edu>, "Utah Peace Officers Association 2022" <homeupoa@gmail.com>, "Utah Chiefs of Police Assn 2021" <vshupe@utahchiefs.org>, "ckurup@murrayschools.org" <ckurup@murrayschools.org>, "Steven Rich" <steven.rich@washpost.com>, "Salt Lake County (UT) District Attorney 2022" <districtattorney@slco.org>, "Salt Lake City PD Victim Advocate" <jayden.lewis@slcgov.com>, "Crime Victims' Institute2020 Sam Htn State U" <crimevictims@shsu.edu>, "Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Justice Dept." <ttac@ovcttac.org>, "Office for Victims of Crime (U.S. DOJ)" <itverp@usdoj.gov>, "Fbinaa Info" <info@fbinaa.org>, "csfc@nsa.gov" <csfc@nsa.gov>, "media@nsc.org" <media@nsc.org>, "National District Attorneys Assn Crime Prevention" <nbunn@ndaajustice.org>, "California Crime Prevention Officers Assn 2022" <info@ccpoa.us>, "Texas Crime Prevention Asssociation President" <president@tcpa.org>, "Crimevictims GV" <crimevictims@utah.gov>, "Cameron Roden" <croden@utah.gov>, "mayor@midvale.utah.gov" <mayor@midvale.utah.gov>, "Mike Weichers" <mweichers@ch.utah.gov>, "mayor@sandy.utah.gov" <mayor@sandy.utah.gov>, "Kimberly Foster" <kimberly.foster@wvc-ut.gov>, "Utah League of Cities 2022" <lthrailkill@ulct.org>, "Univ of Utah Criminology Dir. Heather Melton" <heather.melton@soc.utah.edu>, "dps-victimservices@utah.gov" <dps-victimservices@utah.gov>, "Texas anti-crime Fusion Center 2021" <txfc@dps.texas.gov>, "DenverPostEditors" <newsroom@denverpost.com>, "Los Angeles Times" <newstips@latimes.com>, "Letters" <letters@seattletimes.com>, "Fox News SLC 2022" <news@fox13now.com>, "Attorney General of Utah" <uag@utah.gov>, "jsweeney@sltrib.com" <jsweeney@sltrib.com>, "Deseret News 2022" <dnweb@deseretnews.com>, "newsmedia@ldschurch.org" <newsmedia@ldschurch.org>, "elder.justice@usdoj.gov" <elder.justice@usdoj.gov>, "amanda.capps" <amanda.capps@slcgov.com>, "slcpdpr@slcgov.com" <slcpdpr@slcgov.com>, "Adult Protective UT Supvr Chad Hansen" <cbhanse@utah.gov>, "Laakeripa" <laakeripa@utah.gov>, "Jennifer Gardiner" <jgardiner@abc4.com>, "nbauer@abc4.com" <nbauer@abc4.com>, "NBC Nightly News Headqrtrs 2016" <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>, "CBS News '60 Minutes' Editors and Reporters" <60m@cbsnews.com>, "National Press Club 2021" <headliners@press.org>, "Utah Public Radio 2022" <tom.williams@usu.edu>, "National Association of Insurance Commissioners 2022" <news@naic.org>, "insurance@utah.gov" <insurance@utah.gov>, "American Health Insurance Providers 2022" <ahip@ahip.org>, "American Health Insurance Providers 2022" <ahip@ahip.org>, "Arizona Republic Newstips" <newstips@arizonarepublic.com>, "ABA Commission on Disability 2020" <amy.allbright@americanbar.org>

Cc: "The White House Attn Pres. Biden" <engagement@ostp.eop.gov>, "Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson 2021" <beckiepage@utah.gov>, "Office of Gov. Spencer Cox" <govcomm@utah.gov>, "Utah Medical Association 2021" <info@utahmed.org>, "University of Utah Student Newspaper 2022" <press@chronicle.utah.edu>, "Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault 2020" <info@ucasa.org>, "Utah Republican Party" <info@utgop.org>, "webmaster@democrats.org" <webmaster@democrats.org>, "County Council Member Bradshaw" <arbradshaw@slco.org>, "Joel Briscoe" <jbriscoe@le.utah.gov>, "Jplumb" <jplumb@le.utah.gov>, "Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall 2021" <mayor@slcgov.com>, "Mayor Wilson" <mayor@slco.org>, "Salt Lake City (UT) City Council" <council.comments@slcgov.com>, "Mark A. Strong" <mstrong@le.utah.gov>, "mark.coffield" <mark.coffield@mail.house.gov>, "liam.anderson" <liam.anderson@mail.house.gov>, "State Rep. Angela Romero" <angelaromero@le.utah.gov>, "Internships" <internships@romney.senate.gov>, "Joel_wellum" <joel_wellum@lee.senate.gov>, "City Weekly (SLC) News Editor Benjamin Wood" <bwood@cityweekly.net>, "tweiler@le.utah.gov" <tweiler@le.utah.gov>, "kcullimore@le.utah.gov" <kcullimore@le.utah.gov>, "lescamilla@le.utah.gov" <lescamilla@le.utah.gov>, "dowens@le.utah.gov" <dowens@le.utah.gov>, "rwilcox@le.utah.gov" <rwilcox@le.utah.gov>, "shollins@le.utah.gov" <shollins@le.utah.gov>, "spitcher@le.utah.gov" <spitcher@le.utah.gov>, "cacton@le.utah.gov" <cacton@le.utah.gov>, "klisonbee@le.utah.gov" <klisonbee@le.utah.gov>, "tclancy@le.utah.gov" <tclancy@le.utah.gov>, "jburton@le.utah.gov" <jburton@le.utah.gov>, "mkennedy@le.utah.gov" <mkennedy@le.utah.gov>, "jstevenson@le.utah.gov" <jstevenson@le.utah.gov>, "dthatcher@le.utah.gov" <dthatcher@le.utah.gov>, "news@nytimes.com" <news@nytimes.com>

Sent: Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 3:09 PM

Subject: Foloup on reply Fw: Question for Utah Office for Victims of Crime Chairgo

July 20, 2023

Dear Utah Office for Victims of Crime Director Gary Scheller,

After writing to you yesterday I would like to add one observation.

If the Utah Legislature were to establish a very effective statewide Utah Crime Prevention Program benefitting each of the cities and counties of our entire  state, this could enhance the ability of  Victim Advocates here in Utah to adequately address the needs of each of the crime  victims they serve.

It seems likely to me that many of the government-employed Victim Advocates here in Utah are currently burdened with a larger  number of clients to assist than they are capable of successfully helping.

If the violent  crime rates in Utah decline dramatically and the total statewide number of violent-crime victims per year also declines, this will strengthen the ability of Victim Advocates  to fully and promptly assist crime-victim clients of theirs in our state.

I myself would welcome the opportunity to make a financial donation toward establishment of a proposed "Utah Crime Prevention Superfund". That new  Superfund could help fund a wide variety of crime-prevention projects that are initiated by municipal and county governments or by state government agencies here in Utah.

Thank you again, Mr. Scheller, for your friendly and informative July 18 reply letter to me. 

Best Wishes to you and your other honorable  colleagues with the State of Utah.

Incidentally, Mr. Scheller, I take pride in having a strong Utah heritage and LDS heritage. I am the  youngest grandson of Murray (UT)-based former butcher shop owner Parley McMillan and his devoted LDS member wife, Mrs. Alice Mae Pugh McMillan of Murray. Although I never met them in person, I appreciate their civic-minded contributions to Utah in the early 20th Century.

Sincerely,

permanently alcohol-free and lifelong-tobacco-free, dependably civil and law-abiding,  permanent Utah resident (ever since January 1, 2023, when I successfully completed one full year of living in Utah on a continuous and uninterrupted basis) John Kevin McMillan, 535 South 200 East, Apt. 912, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. 

My cell phone number: (512) 993-7305.

My home phone: (801) 355-0850.

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "John McMillan" <mcmillanj@att.net>

To: "Gary Scheller" <garys@utah.gov>, "Crimevictims GV" <crimevictims@utah.gov>, "Cameron Roden" <croden@utah.gov>, "chad.atkinson" <chad.atkinson@slcgov.com>, "leo.abila" <leo.abila@slcgov.com>, "Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall 2021" <mayor@slcgov.com>, "marie.stewart" <marie.stewart@slcgov.com>, "Mayor Wilson" <mayor@slco.org>, "Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson 2021" <beckiepage@utah.gov>, "Office of Gov. Spencer Cox" <govcomm@utah.gov>, "Salt Lake City (UT) City Council" <council.comments@slcgov.com>, "County Council Member Bradshaw" <arbradshaw@slco.org>, "communications@utahbar.org" <communications@utahbar.org>, "Him-roi" <him-roi@umail.utah.edu>, "Joel_wellum" <joel_wellum@lee.senate.gov>, "Westminster College Provost 2022" <rbadenhausen@westminstercollege.edu>, "Utah State University Provost 2022" <provost@usu.edu>, "Univ of Utah Criminology Dir. Heather Melton" <heather.melton@soc.utah.edu>, "Utah Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse 2021" <info@capsa.org>, "Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault 2020" <info@ucasa.org>, "Rape Abuse and Incest National Network" <info@rainn.org>, "UT_Webmanager" <ut_webmanager@hud.gov>, "Office for Victims of Crime (U.S. DOJ)" <itverp@usdoj.gov>, "U.S. Justice Dept." <ttac@ovcttac.org>, "dps-victimservices@utah.gov" <dps-victimservices@utah.gov>, "dpscontact@utah.gov" <dpscontact@utah.gov>, "Attorney General of Utah" <uag@utah.gov>, "Kimberly Foster" <kimberly.foster@wvc-ut.gov>, "newsmedia@ldschurch.org" <newsmedia@ldschurch.org>, "Adult Protective UT Supvr Chad Hansen" <cbhanse@utah.gov>, "Fox News SLC 2022" <news@fox13now.com>, "CBS News '60 Minutes' Editors and Reporters" <60m@cbsnews.com>, "Utah Medical Association 2021" <info@utahmed.org>, "Deseret News 2022" <dnweb@deseretnews.com>, "Jplumb" <jplumb@le.utah.gov>, "SLCo Aging & Adult Services" <ksnelson@slco.org>, "Joel Briscoe" <jbriscoe@le.utah.gov>, "ABA Commission on Disability 2020" <amy.allbright@americanbar.org>, "2016)" <aely@naag.org>, "jsweeney@sltrib.com" <jsweeney@sltrib.com>, "Cc: Salt Lake County Library 2022" <marketing@thecountylibrary.org>, "mark.coffield" <mark.coffield@mail.house.gov>, "liam.anderson" <liam.anderson@mail.house.gov>, "Internships" <internships@romney.senate.gov>, "Mark A. Strong" <mstrong@le.utah.gov>, "Utah Republican Party" <info@utgop.org>, "webmaster@democrats.org" <webmaster@democrats.org>, "University of Utah Student Newspaper 2022" <press@chronicle.utah.edu>, "Utah Restaurant Association 2022" <info@utahrestaurantassociation.org>, "nbauer@abc4.com" <nbauer@abc4.com>, "Jennifer Gardiner" <jgardiner@abc4.com>, "Liz Laurence" <lalaurence@gmail.com>, "National District Attorneys Assn Crime Prevention" <nbunn@ndaajustice.org>, "amanda.capps" <amanda.capps@slcgov.com>, "ABA Center for Human Rights" <humanrights@americanbar.org>, "AMA Council on Science and Public Health" <csaph@ama-assn.org>, "Utah Press Assn Director Brian Allfrey 2022" <ballfrey@utahpress.com>, "Steven Rich" <steven.rich@washpost.com>, "Criminal Justice Journalists Board Member Rashbaum" <rashbaum@nytimes.com>, "media@naag.org" <media@naag.org>, "ekutterna@naag.org" <ekutterna@naag.org>, "Salt Lake County (UT) District Attorney 2022" <districtattorney@slco.org>, "aely@naag.com" <aely@naag.com>, "Utah SIAC" <siac@utah.gov>, "Utah Medical Assn. 2021" <michelle@utahmed.org>, "Utah Hospital Association 2021" <jill@utahhospitals.org>, "media@nsc.org" <media@nsc.org>, "Angela Romero" <angelaromero@le.utah.gov>, "NBC Nightly News Headqrtrs 2016" <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>, "Utah Public Radio 2022" <tom.williams@usu.edu>, "Joe Dougherty (DHHS)" <joedougherty@utah.gov>, "elder.justice@usdoj.gov" <elder.justice@usdoj.gov>, "slcpdpr@slcgov.com" <slcpdpr@slcgov.com>

Sent: Wed, Jul 19, 2023 at 7:47 PM

Subject: Re: Question for Utah Office for Victims of Crime Chair

To: Gary Scheller, 

Director, Utah Office for Victims of Crime state agency,

Salt Lake City, Utah.

Office phone: (801) 227-9375.

Dear Mr. Scheller,

Thank you for your July 18, 2023, reply letter to me that describes the annual training conference for the Utah Council for Victims of Crime. 

I hope that that annual event gets the statewide and nationwide news media coverage that it deserves.

I am also hopeful that annual statewide public recognition for a proposed special and separate "Utah Crime Victim Advocate of the Year" award and financial prize could help to convey to all Utahns and visitors to Utah the crucial very courageous and life-saving role that first-rate Victim Advocates have in our state.

I will continue to pursue brainstorming and research on this subject, and will send you additional tentative ideas based on that leisuretime research of mine.

Thank you again for your friendly reply letter.
Sincerely and Best Wishes,
John Kevin McMillan, 535 South 200 East, Apt. 912, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.

Cell phone: (512) 993-7305.

Home phone: (801) 355-0850.

John Kevin McMillan

On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 01:59:55 PM MDT, Gary Scheller <garys@utah.gov> wrote:

Hello John,

My apologies for the late response. Currently, the Utah Office for Victims of Crime facilitates an annual training conference for the Utah Council on Victims of Crime. That conference is dedicated to victim services professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors and other professionals interested in enhancing their their professional skills. The first day of the conference includes an awards luncheon during which various such awards like the one you mention, are granted. While the awards are very nice engraved plaques, they would certainly not  meet any sense of the definition of "generous cash prize".  I would be interested in hearing more about your ideas.

Thank you,

Gary

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Crimevictims GV <crimevictims@utah.gov>
Date: Mon, Jul 10, 2023 at 3:31 PM
Subject: Fwd: Question for Utah Office for Victims of Crime Chair
To: Gary Scheller <garys@utah.gov>, Melanie Scarlet <mscarlet@utah.gov>

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: John McMillan <mcmillanj@att.net>
Date: Sat, Jul 8, 2023 at 8:57 AM
Subject: Question for Utah Office for Victims of Crime Chair
To: Crimevictims GV <crimevictims@utah.gov>, Cameron Roden <croden@utah.gov>, chad.atkinson <chad.atkinson@slcgov.com>, leo.abila <leo.abila@slcgov.com>, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall 2021 <mayor@slcgov.com>, marie.stewart <marie.stewart@slcgov.com>, Mayor Wilson <mayor@slco.org>, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson 2021 <beckiepage@utah.gov>, Office of Gov. Spencer Cox <govcomm@utah.gov>, Salt Lake City (UT) City Council <council.comments@slcgov.com>, County Council Member Bradshaw <arbradshaw@slco.org>, communications@utahbar.org <communications@utahbar.org>, Him-roi <him-roi@umail.utah.edu>, Joel_wellum <joel_wellum@lee.senate.gov>, Westminster College Provost 2022 <rbadenhausen@westminstercollege.edu>, Utah State University Provost 2022 <provost@usu.edu>, Univ of Utah Criminology Dir. Heather Melton <heather.melton@soc.utah.edu>, Utah Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse 2021 <info@capsa.org>, Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault 2020 <info@ucasa.org>, Rape Abuse and Incest National Network <info@rainn.org>, UT_Webmanager <ut_webmanager@hud.gov>, Office for Victims of Crime (U.S. DOJ) <itverp@usdoj.gov>, Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Justice Dept. <ttac@ovcttac.org>, dps-victimservices@utah.gov <dps-victimservices@utah.gov>, dpscontact@utah.gov <dpscontact@utah.gov>, Attorney General of Utah <uag@utah.gov>, Kimberly Foster <kimberly.foster@wvc-ut.gov>, newsmedia@ldschurch.org <newsmedia@ldschurch.org>, Adult Protective UT Supvr Chad Hansen <cbhanse@utah.gov>, Fox News SLC 2022 <news@fox13now.com>, CBS News '60 Minutes' Editors and Reporters <60m@cbsnews.com>, Utah Medical Association 2021 <info@utahmed.org>, Deseret News 2022 <dnweb@deseretnews.com>, 500401776@missionary.org <500401776@missionary.org>, Jplumb <jplumb@le.utah.gov>, SLCo Aging & Adult Services <ksnelson@slco.org>, Joel Briscoe <jbriscoe@le.utah.gov>, ABA Commission on Disability 2020 <amy.allbright@americanbar.org>, Center for Ethics and Public Integrity (NAAG, 2016) <aely@naag.org>, jsweeney@sltrib.com <jsweeney@sltrib.com>
Cc: Salt Lake County Library 2022 <marketing@thecountylibrary.org>, mark.coffield <mark.coffield@mail.house.gov>, liam.anderson <liam.anderson@mail.house.gov>, Internships <internships@romney.senate.gov>, heather.melton@soc.utah.edu <heather.melton@soc.utah.edu>, Mark A. Strong <mstrong@le.utah.gov>, Utah Republican Party <info@utgop.org>, webmaster@democrats.org <webmaster@democrats.org>, University of Utah Student Newspaper 2022 <press@chronicle.utah.edu>, Utah Restaurant Association 2022 <info@utahrestaurantassociation.org>, nbauer@abc4.com <nbauer@abc4.com>, Jennifer Gardiner <jgardiner@abc4.com>, Liz Laurence <lalaurence@gmail.com>, National District Attorneys Assn Crime Prevention <nbunn@ndaajustice.org>, amanda.capps <amanda.capps@slcgov.com>, ABA Center for Human Rights <humanrights@americanbar.org>, AMA Council on Science and Public Health <csaph@ama-assn.org>, Utah Press Assn Director Brian Allfrey 2022 <ballfrey@utahpress.com>, Steven Rich <steven.rich@washpost.com>, Criminal Justice Journalists Board Member Rashbaum <rashbaum@nytimes.com>

July 8, 2023

Dear Utah Office for Victims of Crime Board Chair and Licensed Physician Dr. Brooks Keeshin,

Do you believe  there should be a "Utah Victim Advocate of the Year" award and accompanying generous cash prize conferred each year on the Victim Advocate in Utah who distinguished himself or herself through outstanding services he or she provided to crime victims in this state in the most recent previous calendar year?

I was not able to find any reference to any such awards tradition or award  when I Googled the subject online today.

I am very hopeful that your state-government agency or some religious group or civic group or law-enforcement agency  or other government agency here in Utah will be willing to promote establishment of this type of annual awards tradition for Utah.

Sincerely and Best Wishes,

John Kevin McMillan, 535 South 200 East, Apt. 912, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.

My cell phone: (512) 993-7305.

My home phone: (801) 355-0850.

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android

--

Gary Scheller, Director

Utah Office for Victims of Crime

garys@utah.gov

801-227-9375