Against Abuse honors first responders

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Maricopa’s first responders were treated to purple cookies, stickers and ribbons by Against Abuse, Inc.-Maricopa yesterday in order to help raise awareness about domestic violence.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, focusing on a crime that crosses all boundaries: age, class, ethnicity and gender. Across this country domestic violence traumatizes victims, endangers children, harms families and threatens communities.

“These first responders put their lives on the line to help victims of domestic violence, and I just want to thank all of you for what you do,” Against Abuse representative Torri Anderson told Maricopa police and firefighters.

In Maricopa calls to police for domestic violence rank second in volume only to calls for false alarms, and, as the stress continues to increase from the economic downturn, Anderson predicts the number of calls will increase.

Often the MPD victim service-provider unit will refer people to Against Abuse for help, even driving victims to the Casa Grande shelter.

Currently, Against Abuse is working to build a shelter in Maricopa similar to the 6,000 plus square-foot location in Casa Grande.

However, that shelter is constantly full and struggles to meet the demands of the county. “This shelter in Maricopa is greatly needed,” Anderson said.

File photo