By C1 Staff
MELEOD COUNTY, Minn. — A 41-year veteran McLeod County probation officer was recently honored with the Inspire Award, after he was nominated by a domestic violence victim’s advocacy group.
“[Andy Ympa] understands domestic violence, and he wants to see people safe,” Jill Barrall, of the McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence, told the McLeod County Chronicle. She and her coworkers nominated Ympa for the award, which recognizes professionals that serve as allies to the domestic violence cause.
“Andy is someone who’s always been there. He’s always been really supportive of our agency,” Barrall said.
Ympa was present when the alliance opened its doors in 1992, starting a partnership shortly thereafter that he initiated.
This helped the alliance get in touch with those who needed their help; Barrall said Ympa refers domestic violence survivors to the alliance.
“If he encounters people and listens to their story, he’ll call us up,” she said. “We just really appreciate this because we’ll take any avenue that we can get to someone to be able to help them.”
And Ympa’s approval of the alliance helped gain the community’s trust.
“Andy will say, ‘these ladies are wonderful; I trust them,’” Barrall said. “Coming from him, to somebody who’s in the system and may not trust people, and aren’t really sure who they can talk to, that’s the best word of mouth advertising.”