Salazar Helps Domestic Violence Victims, Named Whitfield County Employee Of Month For May

  • Thursday, June 30, 2016
  • Mitch Talley

As a victim advocate for the Domestic Violence Unit in the local district attorney’s office, Erica Salazar helps victims and witnesses make it through the criminal justice process.

Her efforts since joining the D.A.’s office in June 2014 have not gone unnoticed. In fact, Ms. Salazar impressed her co-workers even before she officially became an employee.

“Prior to her employment with our office, she interned in the district attorney’s office working with Chief Investigator Glenn Swinney,” co-worker April Parker said. “During her time with our office, both as a volunteer and employee, Erica has gone above and beyond what is expected of her.”

Ms. Parker was so impressed that she successfully nominated Ms. Salazar as Whitfield County Employee of the Month for May.

“Erica is very proactive in her duties,” Ms. Parker said on her nomination form. “Assistant District Attorney Susan Beck said Erica has the answers before Ms. Beck asks the questions and has tasks completed before Ms. Beck asks them to be done. Erica is quick to complete any task she is asked to do and volunteers to help others with work they may need help with.”

Ms. Salazar never complains about being asked to do extra duties and always does her best to make sure the work is complete and correct, Ms. Parker said.

“She is also very courteous with her co-workers,” Ms. Parker said. “Recently our Domestic Violence Unit was very short staffed. Erica not only completed her work as an advocate, she also made sure victims were scheduled for appointments with the investigator, helped victims applying for TPOs (temporary protective orders), answered calls coming into the unit, and assisted people in the lobby area, duties usually done by a receptionist.”

Ms. Salazar works as a victim advocate where she interacts with domestic violence victims on a daily basis. 

“She is always pleasant and respectful to victims,” Ms. Parker said. “She spends many hours safety planning with victims and trying to make sure they have information they can use to help make themselves safer. Her work and service to victims shows her compassion and concern for people in our community.”

Ms. Salazar is also active in the community outside the office. She is a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where she teaches children. She also participates and volunteers in fundraisers for breast cancer research.

To let local residents learn more about her, Salazar recently filled out the following fun questionnaire.

Name:   Erica C. Salazar
Job title:  Victim advocate for the Domestic Violence Unit, District Attorney’s Office
Time with the county:  2 years
Where I went to high school:  Southeast Whitfield
My role as a county employee:  To assist victims and witnesses through the criminal justice process. 
What keeps my job interesting:  My co-workers, and the knowledge that anything can happen each day.
What gives me a sense of accomplishment on the job:   The strength that I see in victims throughout the process. 
The most important thing I’ve done on the job:   Is to be there for someone that truly believes that she or he has no one else for support.
Where I grew up:  Dalton
Family:    Parents, Victor and Olivia Salazar. Siblings, Veronica Flores, Victor Salazar Jr, and Kate Salazar.  In-laws, Carlos Flores and Karla Carranza-Salazar. Niece, Victoria Flores. Nephews, Adrian Reyes, Tristen Flores, and Mason Salazar. 
After work, I enjoy:  spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy going to the gym or going to walk trails or the loop. 
Community activities:  I am a Catechist at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the children religious education program. I participate or volunteer in the Wash Me Pink races. 
Favorite TV show:  CSI
Favorite sport/sport team:  Football/ UGA Bulldogs 
Favorite meal:  Dinner 
Favorite song:  This I Promise You, by N*sync
Favorite Whitfield County restaurant:   El Pollo Alegre
Favorite Whitfield County event:  Wash Me Pink Race
You can pick four people to have dinner with (anyone from any time in history) – who are your four people and why?   My maternal grandparents, Santos and Cruz Sotelo, my paternal grandfather, Manuel Salazar, and one of my best friends, Amanda Posey. I would like to have conversations with them one more time to reminisce with them on their stories and advice.   
I’m most proud of:  and blessed to have such a close and supportive immediate and extended family. 
Cats or dogs?   Dogs
Cake or pie?   Cake
Favorite car?  Jeeps
Host or be hosted?  Hosted
Early riser or sleep-in:   Sleep-in
Favorite vacation ever:  Trip to Disney World and Sea World 
Best teacher you ever had:  Mrs. Kara Stevenson (Coach K) 
Pet peeve:   When someone chews food with his or her mouth opened.
If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s:   to cherish every moment to the fullest. 
Who has had the most impact on my life:  My mom. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I can see more strength and persistence in my mom to achieve the final remission stage.
What’s left on my bucket list:  95 percent of my bucket list
If I could have been in any profession of my choosing, I would have been a:   Disney Pixar Animator
If I could have two wishes, they would be:   To time travel in the past and future, and to know all languages in the world for when I travel. 
You’d be surprised to learn that I:  am afraid of heights, but I try to overcome it when new adventures are presented in front of me. 
The best advice you ever got:  Dream big; the future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. 
Anything else you’d like to say:   I’d like to thank everyone that has taught me and continues to share their knowledge with me as I continue to grow professionally and personally.

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