The majority of police calls dispatched in Boone County on any night tends to be domestic abuse calls. The official police code for a domestic abuse call is a “signal 52,” and they tend to have the potential for extreme violence. State troopers, sheriff’s deputies and municipal police departments in Boone County take these calls very seriously, and so does Resolve Family Abuse.
Sponsored by the YMCA, Resolve has a staff of counselors and advocates that helps abused men and women break the cycles of violence that may have overtaken their lives.
Resolve staff members go with abused persons to court, helping them obtain orders of protection, protecting them from abusive spouses, and even offering to help change attitudes of the abusers.
On Oct. 21, the organizers of Resolve, including local director Tina Manns, held a candlelight vigil to call for a halt to domestic battery in our lifetime and to honor one law enforcement officer who has been in the forefront of the battle for thirty years.
Manns told the audience the details of how her small but dedicated staff works with victims.
“We go out day and night to help people who really need it,” she said, reminding everyone of those vulnerable citizens who are constant victims and what they and their families endure.
Manns honored Captain Randall White, of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department for what she called his “dedication to abuse victims for thirty years.” White received the Resolve Family Abuse officer of the year.
“For as long as I’ve known him, Randall has been there day or night to help people who are being abused,” Manns told the audience. “He doesn’t flinch from arresting people who bring violence to families and whenever we need him, all we have to do is pick up a phone.”
Surprised by the award, White said the credit should go to the staff of Resolve Family Abuse. “These have been many nights where I have called Tina to take an abused family member to their shelter,” White said. “No matter when, the victim is taken care of and protected from danger.”
White continued, “I could have retired a couple of years ago, but I decided to stay around a while longer because of people like these.”
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