“Domestic violence is a serious crime, and we must be vigilant as family members, neighbours and community leaders to step forward and protect people by reporting these incidents to police,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Armstrong, of the EPS Domestic Offender Crime Section (DOCS).
While the number of incidents reported to EPS declined by 2 per cent between January and October (2012 vs. 2013), DOCS’ saw a 16 per cent increase in the cases of a more serious nature that they investigated.
“Whether it’s a neighbour you meet at the community mailbox or the parent of a child you might coach in minor sports, as a caring society we can’t become complacent,” said Armstrong, whose funding request for two additional investigators is one component to the EPS’s overall annual 2014 budget currently before council. “We all have to trust our instincts and make the call. You might be the last line of defence for someone who is being victimized and in a horrific life situation.”
The EPS initially launched the “Speak Out” campaign in November 2012, as a way of empowering the community to report potential incidents of domestic violence, in an attempt to reduce violence to people at risk, a key pillar of the service’s Violence Reduction Strategy.
The EPS Domestic Offender Crimes Section includes:
- Detectives with specialized training in intimate partner violence
- Constable and Social Worker team that work in domestic violence courtrooms to assist victims of intimate partner violence
- Constable and Social Worker teams to work with victims of intimate partner violence
- Victim Support Constables in each EPS division that follow up on domestic violence incidents
To view the 15-second “Speak Out” commercial, visit "Speak Out!" . A photo of one of the billboard advertisements is included below. The campaign will begin airing today, Tuesday, Dec.3, 2013, on Global Edmonton TV. The campaign also includes a print component, which will appear at LRT stations and on billboards across the Greater Edmonton region, as well as in restaurant and lounge washrooms across the city.