NFL Domestic Violence cases highlight national problem facing Nation and Maverick County
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Recent National Football League (NFL) players domestic violence cases has shined light on the very serious problems facing women in the Untied States and Maverick County concerning this issue.
Former Baltimore Ravens standout running back Ray Rice’s documented domestic violence case with his then fiancee Janay Palmer (now his wife, Janay Rice) at an Atlantic City, New Jersey elevator casino has raised an uproar and outcry for America to do something about this lethal and oftentimes tragic problem. Rice was originally suspended for two games in the summer, but TMZ published the elevator video showing Rice striking his fiancee in the face knocking her unconscious, causing the NFL to suspend Rice indefinitely and question NFL’s Commissioner Roger Goodell’s judgment handling the Rice investigation.
Other recent NFL stars’ domestic violence cases, including Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson’s indictment for injury to a child (child abuse) by a Montgomery County, Texas grand jury, has caused great debate and discussion among American society and the world.
United States Congressman Pete P. Gallego recently commemorated and acknowledged the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act in 1994, which toughened domestic violence laws and increased resources to combat violence against women. “As a former prosecutor, I can tell you the law was critically important. It gave prosecutors the tools and the resources necessary to aggressively prosecute those who commit violent acts against women, and it provided federal funds to help prevent domestic violence, and to assist victims of crime,” said Gallego.
“I was a champion for crime victims in the legislature in Texas and in 2013, my first year in Congress, I was a proud co-sponsor of the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The reauthorization, one of the few things that congress actually agreed on, underscores that there is no place for domestic violence in our society. Recent events in the NFL have brought domestic violence back to the forefront of our national dialogue and I’m glad to see that our national commitment to end domestic violence is stronger than ever,” added Gallego.
“ A few months ago, when funding cuts were proposed to domestic violence programs, I introduced a bi-partisan amendment to a 2015 Appropriations bill that not only reminded those in Congress of our obligation to fight domestic violence, but it also set aside $2.5 million for the Prevention and Prosecution section of the Office of Violence Against Women. And it set aside an additional $2.5 million for the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement program that keeps shelters in rural areas of our nation open and available for those needing services, because when you’ve got to leave home, you’ve got to have somewhere to go,” said Gallego.
“When one in four women will face domestic violence in their lifetime, protecting those we love from domestic violence, it’s not just an option – it’s an obligation, and an obligation I take very seriously. Today, I urge all of us, all Americans, to push domestic violence out of our society – there’s no room for it. And as a community, we must ensure that those affected by domestic violence have somewhere to go – that they’re protected, that they’re given a hand to get their feet back on the ground,” said Gallego.
Domestic violence is also a disruptive and violent force in our community as Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber and Eagle Pass Police Department Chief of Police Albert Guajardo have stated that addressing the domestic violence issue in the community is a priority to them because of the high incidence rate found and reported in Maverick County.
The Maverick County Sheriff’s Department has had over 40 arrests for domestic/ family violence beginning in June1, 2014 through September 15, 2014, in just a four months span. These statistics does not include calls to the Sheriff’s Department where the person being assaulted in some form or another decided not to proceed with pressing charges against the aggressor.
This information is derived from the Maverick County Sherriff Department arrest logs and can be, found at the Maverick County Sherriff’s Department official website.
The Eagle Pass Police Department also presented their monthly activity reports from July 30, 2014 through August 26, 2014 at a City Council meeting, showing a total of 31 domestic violence/disturbance calls responded to by Eagle Pass Police Officers. It is unclear as to how many of these calls have ledto arrests for domestic/family violence as the information provided in the EPPD report only shows department activity as a breakdown of calls attended to.
Although a specific number of how many of these calls did or did not lead to arrest of an aggressor is not clear, it is quite noticeable that domestic violence is a very serious problem in Eagle Pass and Maverick County.
Any person who is a victim of domestic violence or needs counseling regarding leaving or ending a domestic violence situation, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE (7233) – and know that all calls are confidential. Let’s end domestic violence stated Congressman Gallego.
The Winter Garden Women’s Shelter in Eagle Pass can be contacted at (830) 757-5188 for any assistance with domestic violence issues and temporary housing and legal counseling. Its main office number in Carrizo Springs is (830) 876-9656 and the local crisis hotline number is 1-800-363-9441.
Winter Garden Women’s Shelter is for victims of violent domestic violence and/or family crimes and to support and counsel victims that they are not alone in ending the abuse. Reorganized as the Winter Garden Women’s Shelter, Inc., the facility opened on February 1, 1995, with one full-time employee and four part-time assistants. Today, Winter Garden Women’s Shelter continues to operate a 24/7 shelter facility in Dimmit County, and two outreach offices located in the Maverick County, employing a total of 11 full-time and 1 part-time employees.
Domestic violence is not acceptable and is a criminal violation if prosecuted. The recent influx of NFL players’ domestic violence cases has brought much needed attention and discussion regarding this serious problem in America, including Maverick County.
