According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), domestic violence affects about 1 in 3 women. The numbers were almost as high for men—1 in 4. Put differently, 24 people suffer physical violence from an intimate partner every minute. Unfortunately, it is not always easy for a victim to leave. In fact, 75% of the women who...
Continue ReadingNo one enters a relationship expecting it to be violent. Nevertheless, experts caution that about 25% of women and 14% of men will experience at least one occurrence of domestic violence. To protect yourself, you should better understand why abuse happens. It’s All About Control When couples feel comfortable and on equal footing, a relationship can be harmonious. However,...
Continue ReadingIt is well known that domestic violence is a serious problem in central Florida. Area police frequently cite domestic violence calls as among the most dangerous situations they must respond to. Sadly, recent events have only brought this danger to home for residents of Orlando. On the evening of June 10, police officers responded to a domestic violence call...
Continue ReadingFor Orlando-area police officers, domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous situations they face. What starts out as a verbal argument between two people quickly escalates into threats of physical violence. And when one of the parties has a gun, these threats may turn into deadly action–exposing not only the other person but any law enforcement first responders...
Continue ReadingIf you ask the typical Orlando-area police officer what scenario they fear most while on-duty, their answer probably will not be “taking down a drug dealer” or responding to a mass shooting. Instead, the officer may tell you their greatest fear is responding to a domestic violence call. And with good reason: According to the FBI, 136 police officers...
Continue ReadingMany relationships are based on love and trust. The two parties involved respect each other enough to not physically or emotionally hurt one another. They do not forcefully push, shove or hit each other, and they do not use or threaten any other type of violence. Some relationships, however, become violent. While men are often the ones accused of...
Continue ReadingWe all understand that domestic violence is a serious problem in Florida. Indeed, many of us personally know someone who has been affected by acts of domestic abuse or violence. But beyond the individual victims, what does domestic abuse look like in the aggregate? The Global Problem of Intimate Partner Violence The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...
Continue ReadingDomestic violence and abuse take many forms. Indeed, there are many cases where a person is the victim of serious abuse but lacks awareness of their own situation. In these situations, victims may dismiss abusive conduct as normal behavior by a partner or even blame themselves for somehow triggering the abuse. It is critical to understand the various forms...
Continue ReadingDomestic violence is a complex issue. Many victims are afraid to come forward because they fear being judged. And many first responders train to render assistance, such as firefighters and paramedics, may not be properly trained to identify and properly deal with potential domestic violence situations. Orlando Joins Other Local Governments in Protecting Firefighters, EMTs It is important to...
Continue ReadingDawn Meikle, aged 55, was arrested in Port St. Lucie, Florida, after law enforcement officials report she got in a physical confrontation with her husband for cutting the cheese in bed. Meikle’s husband alleged that she eventually kicked him out of bed and began another round of elbowing and kicking. Meikle’s husband attempted to restrain her “for his own...
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