Local detective awarded for going beyond call of duty to help kids

Yahoo

09-04-2025

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (WKBN) – A local detective was recently recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty in her efforts to protect children who are victims of crime.
Detective Hailey Houk with New Castle Police Department was awarded the PA Blue Ribbon Champion for Safe Kids Award. She is one of only four people in the state to receive the designation.
Before the ceremony, participants took part in planting 4,720 blue flags around the Capitol in Harrisburg — one flag for each child who was the victim of abuse in 2023.
'As we recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month and celebrate our 2025 PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids recipients, we must remember that we all can play a role in supporting families, protecting children, and building a more empathetic Commonwealth and communities that lean in to help people who are at risk or struggling. We must lift each other up — our children deserve no less from us,' said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh.
Houk has been with the department for five years. In 2022, she joined the Sexual Assault Task Force with the Lawrence County District Attorney's Office, a path that ultimately led her to the Criminal Investigation Division in August 2024.
'I have a passion for working sex crimes and helping the survivors of sex crimes. Soon after that, I started with child crimes and I became a member of the multidisciplinary team, and I realized how important our child victims are and the fact that they need a lot of extra care, and we need to make sure they have ways to cope,' Houk said.
'Most sexual assaults, especially child crimes, are done by family members or someone who's very close to them, and with a child, that's very devastating because they're being violated by somebody they're supposed to trust and they just don't understand why that's happening.'
Houk said she was shocked and honored to receive the award.
'I believe that it's extremely important because the work we do in the short amount of time can impact their life for the rest of their life because they all are traumatized, and trauma literally changes your brain chemistry. So if it can be taken care of immediately, they have a better chance of the quality of the rest of their life.'
Nothing can stop Detective Houk from helping a child in need.
'I heard children screaming upstairs and I did have to kick a door, I had to kick the front door down to get to the actor and arrest him prior to him having hurt any children or anybody else in the house.'
But her job isn't over once the initial arrest has been made. She says it's imperative that parents bring their children to the forensic interviews because it's used to kickstart the investigation.
'I quite literally don't take no for an answer,' Houk said. 'If there's a concern, if there's an ongoing investigation, we absolutely have to get that child there. I understand that life is crazy for a lot of parents and, you know, sometimes they don't do it on purpose, but I work with them to make sure we can get them there and get them to talk so I can continue with my investigation.'
Part of the importance of these forensic interviews is that they prevent the child or victim from having to face their abuser in court and relive the traumatic experience by publicly testifying against them.
New Castle Police Chief David Cumo praised the work Houk has done.
'Det. Houk has really developed as an excellent detective in the short amount of time that she's been in that position,' Cumo said. 'She's a real asset to our department.'
Houk says she takes a lot of pride in bringing the victims justice.
'They just thanked me for not leaving them in the dark and believing them, because most of the time, these kids really just want someone to believe them, and they struggle with getting a family member to believe that something is happening to them.'
When she is able to close a case and bring justice for a victim, Houk says it's the best feeling she's ever had in her life. For those who may be afraid to come forward, she offers this advice:
'My best advice to a victim is to tell the police first and foremost. The police and a combination of CYS, we will keep you away from the person who is doing harm to you.'
For anyone who may see or hear of something that doesn't seem right, Houk urges them to contact the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-932-0313 and report it.
To learn more or get involved in stopping child abuse, Houk invites the public to UMPC's Steppin' up for Kids Child Abuse Awareness Event on April 24.
'Attending events like this with the Children's Advocacy Center will open your eyes to hidden child abuse,' she said.
The event is open to the community and includes entertainment for families, such as face painting, food, raffle baskets, characters, balloon animals and more. It runs from 4-7 p.m. at The Riverwalk in downtown New Castle.
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