Local law enforcement, social services make progress in addressing domestic violence

Marshall Assistant Chief of Police David Roscher and Debbie Wallace, executive director of The Lighthouse Shelter, met to discuss the Aug. 20 domestic violence reduction training session held by Roscher's company, Public Safety Training Specialists.

The purpose of Roscher's training courses, he said, is to provide law enforcers with the opportunity to fulfill requirements for continuing education. These requirements must be met in order for law enforcers to retain their licenses.

"More important, though, (is getting out) the stuff that needs to be gotten out there," he said. "I think they need training in that particular area. Domestic violence is still a big problem."

He added that he hasn't seen many law enforcement continuing-education training programs on the topic of domestic violence.

There have been a lot of changes regarding domestic violence in the nation, state and county over the past 30 years, said Wallace.

"Before the ... Adult Abuse Act (was passed in 1980), there really wasn't a lot you could do about a domestic violence situation when law enforcement went out," said Wallace. "... It used to be, 'Oh, you know, it's just so-and-so again, it's like our Friday night special; we go out there every Friday night,' and now, something can actually be done."

"Back in those days, there was absolutely nothing done," Roscher said.

Legal aspects of domestic violence were not the only problem faced by victims and those who wanted to help them, said Wallace.

"When law enforcement would receive a call of a woman being abused, say back in the early '90s, we, Saline County, had no services for them," she said. "So, law enforcement was taking them to Pettis County, because that was the closest services available.

"So, not only was the woman being abused, but she had to leave her home, she had to take her children out of school, she had to leave her job, she had to leave her community to go to another county and make a whole new life there, which doesn't always work. So, sometimes, it was easier just to come back to the abuser and face the abuse than it was to go to relocate.

"So, that is one of the reasons that the Lighthouse was started, so we do have services in Saline County for domestic violence victims," Wallace finished.

During the training session, Wallace informed those in attendance about many of the services The Lighthouse Shelter provides.

"I think so many of the officers were just surprised by the services that we (offer). They think so many times that this is just an emergency shelter, like where you're going to come for two to three days, and, I mean, it is, if that's what you need, but if you're really looking to change your lifestyle, your stay here is going to be 60 to 90 days," Wallace said.

Police weren't the only ones who benefitted from Wallace's listing of services, she said.

"We had people there from Chariton County yesterday, and they don't have any domestic violence services in Chariton County. They either have to go to Randolph or Saline, ... and so it was great having them there, because I think they were very much enlightened, also, on what they can do," said Wallace.

Wallace and Roscher also spoke about domestic violence aimed at men.

"A lot of people don't talk about it. It happens, and they don't talk about it," said Roscher.

"And it makes you feel ashamed, that's why people don't just come out and say, 'I've been a victim of domestic violence,' because even though it's not your fault, you still feel shameful of that," Wallace added.

"And then, especially, you're not going to find too many men that's just going to readily come out and say they had, I don't think. 'It's not supposed to happen to a man,'" said Roscher.

"Exactly," replied Wallace, "but it does, and we assist men, also."

Of the 832 people who utilized services offered by The Lighthouse Shelter in 2008, said Wallace, 17 were men. Though men are unable to stay in the shelter due to limited space and privacy, Lighthouse workers contact motel owners and are often able to secure discounted rates for the man's stay.

"Most of the time, and it's easier for us with the men, because the man usually has a job, and he may also leave with the children, we provide the same services to him, the counseling, the support group, if he needs food, we provide him all the same services, he just can't stay in the shelter," said Wallace.

She continued, "... It doesn't seem like they need it nearly as long as most of the women we see, it's usually within a couple of weeks, ... because they have a job, and they can get a paycheck and kind of get started over again a lot easier."

Roscher said his experience in the Aug. 20 training session has convinced him of the need for an expansion of the classes his company currently offers, even taking the classes to out-of-town locations and bringing Wallace along to help provide relevant information.

"If there's any service organization, any church, anything like that that needs somebody to put on a program, talk about something like that, I'm happy to come out and talk to them," he added.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net