We must work together to help those affected by domestic violence

VIENNA, W.Va. (WTAP) – Vienna Police Chief Carl Powell said domestic violence is physical or emotional abuse between two people.

Emily Larkins, executive director of the Family Crisis Intervention Center, shares some national statistics on domestic violence.

“One in four women and one in seven men are likely or likely to be victims of domestic violence, stalking or sexual violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime,” Larkins said.

Chief Powell said law enforcement agencies handle domestic violence calls in a special way.

“Obviously when police arrive on scene, they’re first going to try to determine who the perpetrator is, is it male or female, who the primary perpetrator is. From there, if they can’t make an arrest, they’ll try to separate them and take them to another location. They’ll also advise them on how to obtain what’s called a domestic violence protection order, which is obtained in Wood County Magistrate Court, to encourage the perpetrator to stay away,” said Chief Powell.

If you’re stuck in a domestic violence relationship and want to get out, Patti Baurbach, Housing Coordinator at EVE Incorporated, talks about what you can get.

“One of the things we always recommend is to bring all your important documents with you, pack a bag in advance, have a change of clothes, an extra phone that no one knows about and a little bit of cash,” Baubach said.

If you are unable to obtain key documents for timing or other reasons, there are resources available to assist you in obtaining them.

“We pay for their birth certificates, we help them get their driver’s licenses and state-issued IDs, which are free in Ohio, and we also take them to the Social Security office and help them get their Social Security cards,” Baubach said.

The best way to help someone experiencing domestic violence is to simply be there for them.

“A lot of times people are reluctant to come forward because they’re afraid they won’t be believed, they won’t understand what they’re going through and maybe they won’t understand why they’re not trying to escape,” Larkins said.

She added that some people are unable to leave the country for a variety of reasons, including housing, financial need, employment or having children.

“If there are bystanders out there who really want to help somebody, they can reach out and reach out to us as well, and we can talk to them in detail about how to be a support system, how to be a support network, and how to know the resources to connect with that individual,” Larkins said.

Chief Powell speaks about the importance of law enforcement being patient when responding to domestic violence calls.

“What we have to recognize as police officers, and what’s important for officers, is that they may be in that same home one time, they may be in that home 50 times. What’s important for officers is to treat them like it’s their first visit and treat them like it’s just as important as their first visit, because you never know how many visits it’s going to take before they finally decide to leave that abusive relationship,” Chief Powell said.

Whether or not we know someone who suffers from domestic violence, Larkins reminds us that it really is a big problem.

“Domestic violence is an issue and it’s here and it’s impacting members of our community and we really need to stand together and collaborate and work together to make sure that people who don’t want to contact or utilize our services know better ways to plan for safety and more resources in their area that they can access,” Larkins said.

To contact the Family Crisis Intervention Center, call 800-794-2335 or 304-428-2333. You can also visit the center’s website to learn more about the services they offer.

EVE Inc. can be contacted by calling 800-974-3111 or 740-374-5819 or by visiting the company’s website.

Both FCIC and EVE Inc. are happy to assist anyone looking to get out of an abusive relationship, no matter what state they live in.

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