Local law enforcement will be recognized for their ongoing efforts to stop domestic violence on Friday, Oct. 25, at 11:30 a.m. Sponsors of the event are Partnership for Families, Children and Adults’ Family Violence Center, city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Hamilton County Coalition, and Greater Emanuel Apostolic Church. Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger will speak.
Gifts of thanks will be presented to all local law enforcement departments at the Arboretum of the Hamilton Country/Chattanooga Courts Building. Special recognition will be presented to retiring Lieutenant Chris Chambers of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney General Bill Cox.
“Chattanooga and Hamilton County law enforcement work hard every day to make our community a safer place to live," said Sr. Director of the Partnership, Regina MmcDevitt. "We are so appreciative of their efforts to protect victims of family violence and their extra efforts to work with our Family Violence Center to help these victims through what is a very traumatic time in their lives.”
This presentation is part of several community efforts during Domestic Violence Awareness Month to raise awareness of family violence and to recognize those who advocate to end the abuse. Local law enforcement assists the Partnership with hundreds of family violence cases every year. In addition, the Partnership collaborates with law enforcement officials each year to produce a 40-hour Domestic Violence Training seminar, which teaches police officers how to identify family violence and effectively handle these unique cases. Local precincts across the city and county will be in attendance to receive Partnership staff thanks and gift baskets of homemade goodies to show appreciation.
In addition, six local law enforcement officers will also be recognized for their work; Detective Ed Merritt – Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office; Detective Greg Carson – Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office; Detective Michael Ray – Red Bank Police Department; Lieutenant Jerome Halbert – Chattanooga Police Department; Detective Dennis Waters – Soddy Daisy Police Department; and Investigator Kevin Willoughby – Chattanooga Police Department.
The Partnership’s Family Violence Center provides crisis intervention services, an emergency hotline, counseling, shelter, advocacy and referral services to more than 10,000 individuals and families affected by domestic violence and sexual assault each year. Many of these services are staffed 24 hours a day and are available to assist a client or victim in a moment’s notice. For victims seeking services, help is available by calling the Crisis Hotline at 755-2700.