DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN PASS ON A TRAGIC LEGACY

Domestic abuse cases can be some of the most dangerous calls to which a police officer responds. Between Jan. 1 and April 30, Cape Girardeau officers responded to 176 assault calls, 56 of which were adult abuse situations.

It is department policy that whenever possible a Cape Girardeau police officer will make an arrest at the scene of a domestic dispute. This is not harassment; it is done to protect parties tangled in these highly unpredictable and inherently dangerous situations. The police department policy follows requirements set out by Missouri's Adult Abuse Act.

This domestic abuse can have tragic results, and these shocking statistics are not limited to metropolitan areas.

Last September a domestic dispute turned deadly in Cape Girardeau. A 22-year-old woman, her mother and her 11-month-old son were shot to death - allegedly by the boy's father. Authorities believe he was distraught over their recent breakup.

On May 30, a 27-year-old Cape Girardeau woman shot her husband in the chest. Police believe she acted in self defense and have released her without charges pending a ruling by the local prosecutor.

The local police department has found that making an arrest is the best way to defuse the situation and lessen the chance of injury to a victim. If an officer decides not to make an arrest, he or she must write a report citing their reasons. Under Missouri law, a victim's desire not to press charges is not considered reason enough for not making an arrest. Officers also must inform the victim of available judicial remedies for relief or shelter services.

Responding officers also try to tread lightly. Oftentimes, partners who are fighting will turn on an officer who is trying to intervene. Domestic violence calls have a history of being one of the leading situations where officers can be injured or even killed. Police reports reveal that those involved in local domestic disputes have used knives, rocks, a glass vase, tools, and guns.

Cape Girardeau's Safehouse for Women keeps busy providing refuge to women and their children. Nationally, domestic violence results in more serious injuries every year than rape, motor vehicle accidents and muggings combined.

The responsibility does not rest with the police alone. We must all do our part to break this cycle of abuse and violence. Many times children are in the homes during these violent arguments. When they learn this pattern of adult relations, they often mimic it into adulthood.

The cycle of domestic abuse stretches out to other crimes as well. Statistics suggest that 90-95 percent of all prisoners incarcerated in state and federal prisons come from homes where domestic violence is the norm. During calmer times, families plagued by violence and arguments should stand back and consider the consequences. Their aggressions could trigger violence and unhappiness for themselves and future generations. It's a legacy not worth passing on.