October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month and the Greenwich Police Department is participating with purple ribbons on all police cars and Domestic Violence Awareness pins on all uniforms, thanks to a generous donation for the Silver Shield Association.
“In my years of investigating domestic violence, I think that it happens more often that people believe,” said Detective Christy Girard.
“It happens at every socioeconomic level. I think that we are lucky in the town of Greenwich to have the resources that we have for victims of domestic violence and I hope that they are made aware of all those resources.”
The GPD receives over 200 calls annually about domestic violence, according to Lt. Kraig Gray, making it the most often reported crime of violence in the town of Greenwich.
Gray added that domestic violence is potentially the most lethal types of calls the police department responds to.
“The state of Connecticut has anywhere between 14 and 16 domestic violence homicides per year,” Lt. Gray said. “Power control is a big part of domestic violence. There is no demographic, there’s no cultural biases, it’s really everywhere.”
Gray says that the YWCA of Greenwich and other local organizations offer services to victims. The calls and visits are not affiliated with the GPD or count towards their call numbers.
“The purple pins and ribbons are an attempt to bring a greater sense of awareness and education to the community that domestic violence affects this community like every other one in the country.”
