Re: Shining a purple light on domestic violence
I was glad to read the article in the Tuesday, Sept. 27 Progress that states domestic violence is completely unacceptable in Chilliwack and anywhere else.
Unfortunately, this was not always the case, and it brought back some very unpleasant memories. In the summer of 1982, my husband (who is now my ex-husband) was drinking heavily and became enraged at something I said, or maybe I looked at him the “wrong” way, I don’t recall. He grabbed me by the shirt collar and slammed my head into the wall.
I’ll never forget the screams of my four-year-old son who was forced to witness this.
I called the police and explained that my husband had assaulted me and that I was fearful for my own and my son’s safety. The police officer that I spoke to said they would send someone out right away. I hung up the phone and informed my husband that the police were on the way. I then waited, and waited.... No one came.
When I called back to police told me that no one would be coming after all, and that police believed that domestic violence was something that should be resolved privately at home without police intervention.
I will never forget the feeling of shame and humiliation that I felt when I hung up the phone.
Name withheld
by permission