WAUKESHA, Wis. — Darrell Brooks was found guilty of all 76 counts against him related to the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack. He faces mandatory life in prison, but has yet to be sentenced. Judge Jennifer Dorow has set a hearing Monday to discuss scheduling and logistics of the sentencing.
Brooks’ trial lasted more than three weeks, and was incredibly difficult for families who lost a loved one in the parade attack, and for survivors of it.
Many of them gathered together to watch the courtroom proceedings in a special room set up for them at the Waukesha County Courthouse. Staff of the Victim Assistance Program - which is part of the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office - helped them through it. A member of that staff is Pepper, a four-year-old Labrador Retriever and nationally certified comfort dog.
Pepper is there for adults and children who’ve been directly impacted by crime, through the entire judicial process. Pepper joins meetings during interviews, trial preparation, court hearings, and is with them before they have to testify.
Pepper knows dozens of commands, and is trained in gentle comfort techniques to ease anxiety and stress.
“She formed a particularly strong bond with Dave Sorenson,” said Jennifer Dunn, the Director of the Victim Assistance Program. “We have photos of Pepper sitting with her head and paws on Dave’s feet and legs. He and others said they would not have gotten through parts of the trial without Pepper being here with us.”
Dunn also shared a photo of Tyler Pudleiner cuddling at the courthouse with Pepper. Pudleiner was severely injured in the parade as a member of Waukesha South High School’s marching band.
“Some of the younger children, and teenagers who came in to watch the trial, held on to pepper,” Dunn said. “It’s just immediate comfort. Pepper cuddles with them, can play with them, or just sit by their side.”
Dunn said having Pepper during meetings with victims and witnesses of crimes, who’ve been through horrible things, builds trust and open communication sooner.
“Everyone loves Pepper,” Dunn said. “It’s gotten to the point where employees at the courthouse ask where she is if they don’t see her with me. This is meaningful but very difficult work we do here, and Pepper truly does help all of us too. She provides comic relief in the office.”
Waukesha County’s Victim Assistance Program got Pepper through a non-profit organization out of Oshkosh known as Journey Together Service Dog, which provides trained comfort dogs to veterans, court systems, victims and special organizations. Through that organization, Pepper was trained in part by inmates at the Oshkosh Correctional Institute, and volunteers.
Pepper’s role is paid for 100 percent through a grant and donations. The Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office continues to seek donations and funds to cover costs associated with Pepper’s care. Including food, supplies, vet bills and more.
Donations can be made via the program's homepage on the county's website, waukeshacounty.gov/victimwitness and clicking on the donate paw print link.
Or a check can be mailed to Waukesha Victim Assistance, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Room CG-72 Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188.
They cannot accept donations from anyone related to or involved in an open case in the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office.