Campaign launched to stem domestic violence in valley

By Aida Ahmed

Friday, Aug. 5, 2011 | 7 p.m.

Police in the Las Vegas Valley, along with the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, Medic West Ambulance Service and area shelters are sending a message to residents — stop the violence.

In a campaign to prevent domestic violence, law enforcement agencies are encouraging victims and witnesses of domestic situations to call police before arguments turn violent or deadly.

Lt. Rob Lundquist of the Metro Police domestic violence detail said that in 2010, Metro investigated 37 domestic violence homicides and took reports on 22,423 domestic violence incidents. As of June 2011, there have been nine domestic violence-related slayings, compared to 17 this time last year.

“It’s not just a police problem, it’s a community problem,” Lundquist said. “It’s going to take a community effort to resolve this issue. This prevention project connects people with resources that are available in our community.”

Lundquist said domestic violence incidents reported in Las Vegas are a mix of spouse abuse, child neglect and family violence.

Still, John Hill, executive director of the housing authority, stressed that women are disproportionately affected by abuse.

“Women between 16 and 24 experience the highest episodes of domestic violence,” Hill said. “On average, more than three women are murdered on a daily basis by a husband or boyfriend.”

Three years ago, Janay Williams, 22, was stabbed eighteen times during an argument with her then-boyfriend, she said. Neighbors heard the attack, but didn’t call for help.

Williams said she had been hit on several different occasions before the stabbing, but she didn’t know where to get help.

Her ex-boyfriend was convicted of attempted murder, assault and domestic violence and is serving 32 to 80 years in prison.

The detective on her case encouraged her to join the new domestic violence initiative by creating a public service announcement and posters that will hang in the offices of the agencies participating in the initiative.

“My advice is that if you are in a situation, get help. Just ask anybody because there’s a lot of help out there. At the time I didn’t know,” Williams said.

She also urges witnesses, who often ignore warning signs and don’t want to get involved in fights, to help abuse victims.

“Don’t just stand around and not do anything. You can be an anonymous caller. Just put some type of help out there somewhere, somehow,” she said.

Victims can get help by calling the 24-hour SafeHouse and Safe Nest abuse shelter hotlines at 564-3327 and 646-4981 or their local police department.