SALT LAKE CITY — Vickie Walker had already been through more than most people could imagine.
Her husband was shot and killed in the parking lot outside Trolley Square on Feb. 12, 2007. In his final act, Jeffrey Walker tried to shield his teenage son who was also shot but survived.
It was at her husband's funeral several days later, when she was asked how she was going to pay for it, that she became overwhelmed and broke down to cry.
Jeffrey Walker was one of five people shot and killed inside and around Trolley Square by a gunman who randomly opened fire that February evening in 2007. Four others, including Vickie Walker's son AJ, were injured.
Because of what happened to her and her family, she said she saw firsthand the "hits and misses" of how the system set up to help the victims of violent crime worked.
One of those holes she discovered was that it wasn't until several days after the shootings that she received information about what services were available to help her.
"There were so many victims that no one knew where to start," she said. "It wasn't until many days after the tragedy. Until then, we didn't have any support."
In an effort to prevent other victims, specifically adults, from going through what her family did, and as a way to give back to the community for all the support the public has given her, Walker has established the nonprofit group Circle the Wagons, a group she hopes will soon become nationally active.
One of the group's projects was unveiled Monday, together with the Salt Lake Police Department. Officers will now carry Cans of Comfort in their patrol cars, similar to blankets or teddy bears given to children.
"When children are taken out of a home, they receive teddy bears, crayons and blankets. But adult victims are basically given a case number and a list of organizations that are out there. Often, the list is lost in all the goings and comings surrounding the crime," Vickie Walker said.
Inside the cans are pieces of candy as a gesture of kindness and comfort to the victim. But the important part is what is on the outside, she said.
Each can is a little larger than a standard soup can. On the outside of each can are references to services available to victims, such as victim advocates and the YWCA. The can also contains what Walker calls the 96-hour survival guide.
It's a list of simple things, she said. But in a moment of crisis, victims aren't always thinking clearly, nor are they thinking about getting a family spokesperson or a case number.
While a long list of numbers may get pushed aside and lost, Walker said a can is different.
"You'll lose a piece of paper, but you won't lose this can," she said.
Inside each can is also a note from Vickie Walker and her family, letting the victim know they care about what happens to them and want to help them get the support they may need.
"No one plans on being victimized. How do you plan for something that may happen to you in the future? Our family certainly didn't think we'd need to plan for something of this nature," she said.
The idea of Circle the Wagons is to encircle those who are suffering and give them support and protection.
Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank said the Comfort Can program was completely Walker's idea, but he fully supports it.
"We do a really good job going out and investigating and catching bad guys, but sometimes we lose sight of our victims," Burbank said. "This is someone that has been through an extremely tragic event in her life and made something positive about it, when she could have chosen to just be upset with the hand the world has dealt her."
Walker said the biggest thing her group needs now is donations and volunteers. More information about Circle the Wagons can be found at circle-the-wagons.org and on Facebook.
e-mail: preavy@desnews.com