This has been a year of increased domestic violence in the city of Milwaukee and quite frankly throughout the nation. More than one in six homicides in the city has stemmed from domestic or intimate partner violence. The city of Milwaukee is offering grants up $100,000 to several culturally specific organizations serving domestic violence victims. “We believe every person has a right to experience individualized support in a safe and trusted space,” said Ashanti Hamilton, director of the city’s Office of Violence Prevention. “We have people dying in the streets,” said La Trice Buck, chairperson of the Milwaukee Domestic Violence Committee. “We have women that are being victimized and traumatized at rates that we have not seen,” she said.
Of the city’s 180 homicides so far this year, thirty-two stemmed from domestic or intimate partner violence, Assistant Chief of Police Paul Formolo said. DV related homicides have doubled from this time last year going from 11 to 21. In addition, non-fatal shootings have jumped from 12% from 74 to 83. The Assistant Chief stated, “Obviously we can’t accept this current trajectory or trend.” The chief continued the department is bringing in a group of DV related survivors to learn how the department could do better. “We all know that the police are not the solution,” said Formolo. “The police do play a role along with prosecution and at times incarceration, “he added. The grants will come from federal pandemic relief aid along with other sources.
This level of increased violence against women must stop and hopefully this is the beginning of the city’s effort to do just that. The funding will help but we will need all hands-on deck to deal with this significant issue. The department talking with survivors should help the police better understand what is going on and better police these incidents before they get out of hand. There are several agencies that help women with these issues across the city of Milwaukee. One of the bigger agencies is the Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee that operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at (414)933-2722. There are specific agencies that service Muslim, Indian, Hmong, Latina, and African American women throughout the area. We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.