Mission Kids Mourns Loss of Advocate

Mission Kids mourns the loss of one of its strongest advocates, Chief John J. McGowan of the East Norriton Police Department. Chief McGowan was killed in a motorcycle accident on Friday, June 18, 2010. He was one of our founding forces, and will be sorely missed.

Chief McGowan became involved with Mission Kids when it was merely a concept. He was approached by then Assistant District Attorney Risa Ferman in 2005 about the concept of a new way to investigate child abuse in Montgomery County as a team instead of by individual police departments. Having decades of experience in the criminal justice system and as an experienced child abuse investigator, Chief McGowan was immediately supportive. His advocacy for the project helped motivate all of the police departments in Montgomery County to agree to support a community based response to the investigation of child abuse cases.

Chief McGowan was one of the original Board members of Mission Kids, and proudly maintained that seat up until the time of his death. He was active in aiding the search for quarters in which to open Mission Kids, and was committed to finding space in East Norriton for the Child Advocacy Center to operate. Upon learning that Mission Kids was going to open in his jurisdiction, Chief McGowan took it upon himself to be available at all times for help and guidance in construction of the site, and to aid in ensuring compliance with all legal ordinances. Since the opening of Mission Kids in September, 2009, ‘The Chief’ was well known for stopping in just to say hello, lend a smile and support, and make sure that ‘his Center’ didn’t want for anything that he could provide. One of the Chief’s wishes was to find a permanent location for Mission Kids in East Norriton Township. He will be sorely missed, both personally and professionally, but his spirit will live on forever through service to the abused children in Montgomery County, at the Child Advocacy Center that was so much a part of his creation.

www.timesherald.com/articles/2010/06/19/news/doc4c1c331632de9495534688.txt