The numbers feel like a punch in the gut: Three women a day in the U.S. die as a result of domestic violence, and in 2013, half of the aggravated assault calls the Chattanooga Police Department has received have been related to domestic violence.
And those were just the incidents victims reported.
The front lines of this battle are manned by law enforcement – men and women who daily respond to calls and see firsthand the physical and emotional devastation the violence leaves in its wake.
To conclude a month-long observance of Domestic Violence Month in the U.S., the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults Family Violence Center, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, the Hamilton County Coalition, and Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Church held a ceremony to thank law enforcement personnel for their efforts.
The ceremony took place Friday, October 25 at the Hamilton County-Chattanooga Courts Building. Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger spoke, while special recognition was given to District Attorney General Bill Cox and retired Lt. Chris Chambers of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Mayor Coppinger was the first to take the podium in the atrium of the courthouse, where dozens of attendees had gathered, and where two tables were laden with gift baskets for local law enforcement agencies. He spoke briefly but poignantly, saying, “You are the ones who witness what happens in this city. Thank you for stepping up. We see the cost of what you do.”
Mayor Berke also spoke for only a few minutes, saying, “Seeing the fear in eyes of the victims impacts you. We applaud you for what you do.”
Randy Burns, management analyst with the Chattanooga City Council, then read a declaration signed by Coppinger and Berke that called for every local citizen to help stop domestic violence:
“All citizens in the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County can play a role in ending domestic violence,” he read. “Each of us can promote healthy relationships, speak out when we see injustice in our communities, stand with survivors we know, and change attitudes that perpetuate the cycle of abuse – and we must ensure that survivors of domestic violence know they are not alone.”
Regina McDevitt, director of Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, took the podium to thank the police officers who work to keep people safe. “They willingly miss out on family time during weekends and weeknights. Officers are our patrolling the streets when we’re asleep in our beds. They put their full effort into investigating and partnering with us in providing safety to victims. So we are proud to be honoring all of the officers in our community, including a few who have gone above and beyond by working with advocates for victim safety, exhibiting compassion to survivors, and holding batterers accountable.”
Robin Brewer, courts coordinator for Partnership, honored Cox. Referred to throughout the event as “General,” Cox has nearly 40 years of experience in the criminal justice system. He has sat on numerous committees formed to address domestic violence and was one of the core members that established the Domestic Violence Task Force in 1997. Cox also was a partner in establishing the Domestic Violence Court.
“Bill welcomed advocates into the courts, even when domestic violence was not talked about, and he continues to advocate for victims’ rights and for a change in the way the judicial systems deals with domestic violence cases. We thank you for your years of service and dedication to ending domestic violence, and for being a force for change in Hamilton County,” Brewer said.
Cox said, “Chattanooga is blessed with good mountains and with a good river, but most importantly, with good people. Some of those people are here today wearing badges. They build the cases we present on behalf of the people who were hurt.”
In a touching moment, Chambers was honored by Stacey Maguire, a survivor of domestic violence he helped. Now retired, Chambers worked in the sheriff’s office for nearly 30 years, serving on patrol, in the Criminal Investigations Division, and as the director of the Domestic Violence Task Force. For 17 years, he trained officers to recognize and investigate domestic violence, and for the last six years, he’s collaborated with Partnership in conducting post-certified training of law enforcement.
“Because of Chris’ efforts and the many officers he has trained and worked with, survivors in the community now have a voice. One survivor says Chris saved her life; I know countless others would say the same thing,” Maguire said.
Maguire described Chambers as “the first man I trusted again.”
To conclude the event, Deana Lane, a local advocate for domestic violence victims, pinned a purple ribbon on Lt. Jerome Halbert in recognition of his work and the work of his fellow officers to stop domestic violence.