Homicide Support Specialist bridges gap from victims' families to police investigations

Detroit police homicide support specialist is the first of her kind

Dindi Maloney sets the tone for victim support in civilian liaison role.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Dindi Maloney is already busy in her new role with Detroit police as a Homicide Support Specialist - a first of its kind at DPD.

"I like to say if you need to call me and scream - even if that’s what you’re feeling at the moment," said Maloney in her role as civilian liaison.

"She is here to bring comfort and empathy to the victim’s families in a very trying time in their lives," said Cmdr. Michael McGinnis, DPD.

McGinnis says she’s filling a void, helping detectives to get important cases information to families who want answers.

"It feels so good if you can, you have someone to talk to for a moment - for whatever place you feel like you are in, (during) the process," Maloney said.

She knows the impact families of crime are feeling, first-hand.

"I lost two people that were very important to me - my boyfriend in 2009 was gunned down, and then I lost my aunt to a hit-and-run in 2014," she said.

Maloney, who worked for years at Crime Stoppers and understands when cases go unsolved – the grieving lingers.

Detroit police need your help solving these cases that’s why they launched Rewards TV it’s a website that will highlight different cold cases asking you for tips.

"It’s sharing information with the public to help the detectives close cases," Maloney said.

There isn’t a case too cold that families can’t call about. Maloney understands. She said both the murder of her former boyfriend and the hit-and-run death of her aunt, are still open cases at DPD.

"There are hard-working men and women working these cases in Detroit every day," she said. "And that’s something I want to convey to the families as well. Please don’t feel like you’re by yourself. "