Albany County leaders honor local crime victims

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Leaders and families in Albany gathered Thursday at the County Courthouse to raise awareness for local crime victims. The ceremony occurred amid National Crime Victims Rights Week. The event's theme: Options, Services & Hope for Crime Survivors. Shortly after, the families gathered at nearby Academy Park to honor those victims.

At the park, names on flags make up an unfortunate class: deceased crime victims in Albany County. Be it drunk driving: “We put over 200 miles on the bike when the drunk driver struck us with his SUV which resulted in severely injuring both of us and severing my left leg at the scene,” said Sandy LaPlante.

The mothers of the murdered: “I'm doing everything in my power to prevent other parents from feeling the pain that my family and I have felt since Destiny's passing" cried Tareen Lynch-Greene.

Or the prosecutors and detectives holding perpetrators accountable: “It's very difficult to do this alone,” said a detective who was honored.

No matter the crime, no matter the victim, powerful waves of emotion trickled under the Albany County Courthouse Rotunda during National Crime Victims Rights Week.

“Your experience is humbling… it really is,” said Albany County District Attorney David Soares as he wiped away tears.

Tareen Lynch Greene lost her 15-year-old daughter Destiny to gun violence in 2021, at the hands of 19-year-old Brandon Rivera. Now she's giving back to other young people with a $500 college scholarship. “If our young people were focused on their studies or focused on learning a trade, then Destiny and a lot of other young children would still be here today," said the emotional Lynch-Greene.

Lynch-Greene implored all of us to keep the flame burning, to keep the memory of victims alive, long after their names fade from the headlines. “Just because a case of victim or topic isn’t making headlines anymore, the family needs support" cried Lynch-Greene. "Just because the memorial is no longer there the family still needs your support," she said. "Do not forget to check in” she compelled the crowd.

A detective honored at this event uttered a telling line: "Maybe one day we might live in paradise here on earth so that we won't have to hold events like these anymore". For more information on the my-destiny-scholarship, in memory of Destiny Greene, click here.