Holmdel domestic violence volunteers respond to 30 incidents in 2010
Specially trained township residents volunteer in shifts, offer help to victims
In 2010, the Holmdel Police Department handled 79 domestic violence disputes. In every case, the police immediately informed the victim about the availability to speak to an advocate about their situation. Sometimes the victim agreed to come down to the police station right away, and sometimes they stopped in some time later. But when they did, a volunteer with the township's specially-trained Domestic Violence Response Team dropped what they were doing and came to meet them. The 21 advocates -- all unpaid volunteers - only meet victims at the police station. To protect their safety, their names are never made public. Their job is to sit with a victim in the privacy of the police chief's office, offer comfort and explain legal options…
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