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Commentary: Tackling domestic violence is a gutsy move
By Bill Enfield - benfield@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, November 8, 2007
Story appeared in CITRUS HEIGHTS ORANGEVALE section, Page G5
Citrus Heights city officials staked out an ambitious but Herculean goal recently when they declared an intention to become a regional leader in the fight against domestic crime.
It is a gutsy move.
Domestic violence is not an easy crime to tackle.
It is a crime where victim and abuser are often so tightly wound together that punishing the perpetrator ends up indirectly punishing the victim, too.
Arrest the abuser, and you may take the breadwinner out of the house, leaving the victim and sometimes children financially destitute.
And convicting the perpetrator is only half the battle. Often the victim is left in need of serious help, from healing mental and physical scars to counseling on how to get on with their lives.
I'm not an expert on domestic violence, but I did edit a yearlong investigation by The Bee into domestic violence, which appeared in 1997. In the process, I became closely acquainted with police, support agencies and victims. My wife and I also helped a woman, whom we love like a sister, through a horrendous episode of domestic violence, even to the point of hiding her in our home and standing with her in court.
From this, I can see why agencies, particularly law enforcement, find domestic violence a nightmare with which to deal. But the situation was even worse not too long ago.
As a reporter, I remember in the 1970s going out on "domestics" calls with police officers and the disdain the officers had for such assignments.
Unless there was a grievous physical injury, there was no intervention. The parties were usually advised to "calm down, sober up, act like adults" or something like that. The victim usually was left at the mercy of the abuser to live a life in hell or until the violence got so bad it couldn't be ignored.
But no more. Citrus Heights officials are joining the brave leaders who are proclaiming zero tolerance for domestic violence.
"Our goal and focus is to be a leader (fighting domestic violence) in the region," Police Chief Christopher Boyd.
Mayor Jeff Slowey and others on the City Council backed up Boyd's declaration. So far, Citrus Heights has put teeth in these words. Citrus Heights has shown through the actions of its police to be one of the tougher agencies in the region on domestic violence.
Bravo.
About the writer:
- Call The Bee's Bill Enfield, Folsom Bureau chief, at(916) 608-7461.
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