By Candace Kelley
Correspondent
When a domestic violence call comes in to the West Orange Police Department, victims meet with Lieutenant Jonathan Shulker or someone from his team. They fill out paperwork and then meet with a volunteer from the Domestic Violence Response Team.
“People they might not feel comfortable talking to a police officer in uniform. It can be an intimidating place, so when we have civilians who come forward and volunteer their time. They can help the victim feel a little bit more comfortable,” Shulker said.
The lieutenant says victims, who often bring their kids, feel more comfortable in a private room as they speak with a civilian who is not in uniform. Someone who meets with the them right away to give them support. Support that is given to mostly women, but men also call in for help.
“Domestic violence, it goes both ways — it could be a male victim or a female victim,” said Shulker.
Patti Duffy founded the township’s Domestic Violence Response Team almost 25 years ago.
“They say that it takes a victim at least eight tries before they successfully completely remove themselves from a situation,” Duffy said.
Volunteers are required to be on call each month for at least two, 12-hour shifts. And when they get a call, they go right to the police station or sometimes to the hospital — all hours of the day and night — to assist a victim, someone who may not be ready to leave their abuser.
“Things will get better, I can find a way to make him happy, I still love him, he is the man for me. I’m going to be extremely lonely if I leave him,” Duffy said.
Volunteers are not allowed to give victims legal advice. Their role is listen, give emotional support and to provide them with all of the resources available to them.
“There’s agencies that help with counseling and even children get counseling. There’s a center for women and justice that provides some free legal advice to people, there’s a program that sends advocates to the courts,” Duffy explained.
Volunteers learn about the Power and Control Wheel during 40 hours of training classes. The wheel identifies the ways a person can be abused.
“We’ve actually had some people go through training and realized that they in their past they have been in abusive relationships and didn’t recognize it as such until they are in the training and see that Power and Control wheel,” said Duffy.
The West Orange Domestic Violence Response Team is looking for volunteers for upcoming training sessions but you can call your local police to find a team in your area that has helped usher women to safety all over the state.