Family Advocacy center names interim director, seeks replacement

Pinal County Attorney, James P. Walsh has appointed Alden “Butch” L. Gates, as the interim director of the Pinal County Attorney’s Family Advocacy Center, following the resignation of Christina Schopen, and is preparing to search for a permanent replacement.

Schopen has accepted a position as director of the City of Avondale Advocacy Center. Gates, the Lead Investigator for the center, has been with the program since October 2006. He will be in charge of the program until a permanent director is appointed.

Before joining the Office of the County Attorney’s staff, Gates served for 27 years with the Mesa Police Department rising from a patrol officer to senior investigator status as a detective. A graduate of the University of Arizona where he received a bachelor of science in public administration, he has more than 1,600 hours of specialized training and has taught many classes including training for The Arizona Sex Crimes Investigators, Central Arizona Regional Law Enforcement Academy, East Valley Child Protective Services Training, and the Mesa Police Department as well as for the Office of the Pinal County Attorney.

Gates is an extremely capable administrator as well as an excellent investigator,” Walsh said. “I have the utmost confidence in his ability to continue the excellent work of the Family Advocacy Center.”

The Family Advocacy Center, located near Interstate 10 in Toltec, assists Pinal County law enforcement agencies in the investigation of child sexual abuse cases. The Center provides forensic interviews and forensic examinations which formerly required officers to transport victims to either Phoenix or Tucson. Investigators, Child Protective Service workers, a forensic interviewer and trained law enforcement personnel staff the Center. During the past six months, the Center served 324 children in situations ranging from sexual abuse to neglect.

The Pinal County Attorney’s Office is beginning the process to search for a permanent director for the program.

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