Richland Police Cruiser Wrapped to Bring Awareness of Domestic Violence
The Richland Police Department is bringing domestic violence awareness to the community.
One of the department's cruisers is specially wrapped in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this October. Local businesses and sponsors paid for car wrap. This is the second year the department has had one of their vehicles specially wrapped to bring attention to abuse which is committed by one of the people involved in an intimate relationship against the other person. According to dvawareness.org:
Domestic violence is best understood as a pattern of abusive behaviors–including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks as well as economic coercion–used by one intimate partner against another (adult or adolescent) to gain, maintain, or regain power and control in the relationship. Batterers use of a range of tactics to frighten, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, often injure, and sometimes kill a current or former intimate partner.
Domestic Violence does NOT only occur within intimate relationships.
Domestic violence also involves abuse of children, parents, or elderly people. It can happen in multiple forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, financial, or sexual abuse. The first step to getting help is recognizing the types and signs of abuse.
In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call 9-1-1 to report it. The National Domestic Violence Hotline number is 1-800-799-7233