Police Looking to Prevent Domestic Violence, WV
Police Looking to Prevent Domestic Violence Posted Thursday, November 9, 2006 ; 08:09 PM Nine muder-suicides in W.Va. this year have officials worried. FOLLANSBEE -- With a staggering number of murder suicides in West Virginia, police are looking at news ways to prevent the crime -- and protect themselves. This year alone, more than 20 people have died in murder-suicide cases, all during domestic situations. West Virginia Tonight Live has tracked at least nine situations in Harrison, Ritchie, Gilmer, Cabell, Putnam, Jefferson, Berkeley and Ohio County. During the latest case in Brooke county, a state trooper was wounded in a shootout. Police are responding to each domestic call with a heightened sense of awareness. Officers said when they arrive at a domestic call, they have to expect and suspect everything. According to the Regional Community Policing Institute at West Virginia State University, domestic violence calls now are considered the most dangerous calls for authorities. Police now are sending at least two officers respond. "I guess our job is like any other," said Sgt. Scott Adams of the West Virginia State Police. "When you respond to so many incidents, you tend to maybe take it easy a little bit. With something happening as recently as this, I would say we'll be on a heightened state of caution when we respond to domestics." Adams said many domestic calls are repeat calls. He encouraged anyone who feels his or her life is in danger to contact police immediately. http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=16155