Vancouver Police Participate in Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Vancouver, Wash. — In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness month in October, Vancouver Police Department personnel will be wearing purple ribbon lapel pins to show their support of domestic violence victims and raise awareness about domestic, spousal, and teen dating violence.  The department has also outfitted a vehicle with a purple police logo which will be driven to community events and presentations where officers will be providing information on domestic violence, the danger signs of this crime and resources for victims.

Throughout the month, the department will also be posting information, statistics, tips and resources regarding domestic violence on the department website (www.vanpolice.org) and social media (https://twitter.com/VancouverPDUSA; https://www.facebook.com/VancouverPoliceUSA/)  to further increase awareness around this important issue.

Domestic violence affects millions of men and women of every race, age, religion, culture and status. Domestic violence is not just physical violence; it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats and isolation. Since the Violence Against Women Act was signed into law in 1994, over $7 billion in federal grants have been sent to state and local governments to facilitate programs that prevent domestic violence, sexual assault and dating violence. The Vancouver Police Department has been the recipient of multiple grants related to domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and police response and investigation of these crimes.   

Statistics around domestic violence:

• On a typical day, more than 20,000 phone calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines
• 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year and 90% of those are witnesses
• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 14 men have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner
• 19% of domestic violence involves a weapon
• 1 in 3 high school students experience either physical or sexual violence, or both by someone they are dating
• More than half of women (69.5%) and men (53.6%) who have been physically or sexually abused or stalked by a dating partner, first experienced abuse between the ages of 11-24

For additional information and resources, visit the Vancouver Police Department Domestic Violence page at: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/police/page/domestic-violence

If you are afraid your internet and/or computer usage might be monitored, please use a safer computer, or call the local hotline at the YWCA Safe Choice (360)-695-0501, the Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-562-6025 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE(7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.