“Has he/she threatened to kill you or your children?” and “Does he/she follow or spy on you or leave threatening messages?”
The dispatcher announces that there’s a “10-16 in progress,” and the patrol officers flip on their flashing lights and race to the scene. That’s the radio code law enforcement uses to identify domestic violence, and officers know that code means they’ll soon be in the middle of one of the most unpredictable and dangerous types of calls they handle.
Law enforcement officers also know something that most people don’t realize: domestic violence happens in all kinds of families, in every community, and in every kind of neighborhood. They’re also witnesses to the tragic impact domestic violence has on families and close friends.
Because domestic violence can escalate quickly, law enforcement officers in Hendricks County and many other areas use what’s known as a Lethality Assessment when responding to a domestic abuse call or when they suspect that abuse may be involved in other situations. They ask questions such as “Has he/she threatened to kill you or your children?” and “Does he/she follow or spy on you or leave threatening messages?” Individuals who answer yes to any of the questions are encouraged to seek resources such as the crisis line at Sheltering Wings Center for Women. At times, officers will call Sheltering Wings and hand the phone to victims.
Sheltering Wings works closely with the Hendricks County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which provides specialized training to local law enforcement officials. “The relationship between Sheltering Wings and local law enforcement is one of the most important components in our efforts to reduce the problem of domestic violence,” says Hendricks County Sheriff-Elect Brett Clark. “Sheltering Wings has increased the level of education and awareness both in the public and among the officers who serve here. The partnership has resulted in a safer community and a better law enforcement response.”
It’s time to end the silence and shame surrounding domestic violence for good. We need to bring an end to abuse and help victims get the help they need to live safe, independent lives. The only way that will happen is if everyone stops believing that it is something that happens only to other people who live somewhere else, or who somehow ‘invite’ abuse. Domestic violence is a crime.
In His Service,
Cassie Martin
Executive Director
