WASHINGTON – Each year, approximately 1.3 million women in the United States are the victims of physical assault by an intimate partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. And in 2005, more than 1,500 people were murdered by intimates.
What many people do not realize, however, is that domestic violence takes a heavy toll on the nation’s law enforcement community as well. Over the last decade, 81 law enforcement officers were killed when responding to domestic disturbance calls, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
More officers by far are assaulted or injured during domestic disturbance calls than during any other circumstance. In 2005, 30 percent of the 57,546 assaults on police officers occurred during disturbance calls, according to the FBI. The next highest category, “attempting other arrests,” resulted in only 16 percent of total assaults against officers.
To bring increased attention to the threat posed by domestic violence, and to help protect both families and law enforcement officers, the NLEOMF, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, is calling on citizens across the country to join them in observing National Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October.
“No assignment poses more uncertainty and danger to a law enforcement professional than a domestic disturbance call,” declared Craig W. Floyd, chairman and CEO of the NLEOMF. “The circumstances are emotionally charged, and weapons, alcohol and drugs are often involved. An officer who responds as a peacekeeper often becomes a target of the violence. Many officers have been killed while attempting to protect innocent domestic violence victims,” Mr. Floyd added.
Such was the case on September 8, 2007, when three Odessa (TX) Police Officers were shot when responding to a domestic violence call. Corporal Arlie Jones, Corporal Scott Gardner and Corporal Abel Marquez were attempting to gain entry into the home of a suspected domestic disturbance when the suspect opened fire, killing Corporal Jones and Corporal Gardner. Corporal Marquez was critically wounded; four days later he passed away at a local hospital.
Throughout U.S. history, a total of 547 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty during domestic disturbance situations, their names recorded on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.
“We are proud to join with the law enforcement community, the Coalition Against Domestic Violence and corporations such as Verizon Wireless that have taken the lead in trying to protect abuse victims and end the cycle of domestic violence,” said Mr. Floyd. “As we do more as a society to prevent domestic violence, we will also reduce the number of law enforcement professionals who are assaulted, injured and killed,” he added.
For information about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, visit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website at www.ncadv.org and the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women at www.enditnow.gov.
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NLEOMF Oct. 8 press release
