By Keith Sharward, Board Member & Co-Founder
Having our neighborhoods visited by Sacramento Police Department’s patrol officers, K9 units, and “Air One” helicopter twice in one week on intense domestic violence cases can lead neighbors to feel unsettled. Seeing reports or hearing stories of a suspect running from police, a gun being fired, officers in back yards of neighboring homes, loudspeaker announcements ordering suspect compliance and residents to stay in their homes — it may all come together in a jumble that can make one wonder:
What the heck is going on around here?
Is this a pattern or a sign of what’s to come?
Is this how we expect our lives to be disrupted in our neighborhoods going forward?
Yesterday I had a great conversation with our area’s police captain, Daniel Hahn, about this week’s two isolated but very stressful domestic violence incidents and, specifically, the uneasiness and lingering questions that remain long after the suspects are hauled off to jail and the helicopter flies away. It was an enlightening discussion, the highlights of which I share with you (in my own words).
First, here are the excerpts of Capt. Hahn’s official summaries of the incidents:
(171967) 6/7/09 @ 8:25 pm
Domestic Violence/Arrest, Muskrat Wy, Gateway west
Officers responded to a domestic violence call between husband and wife. The suspect ran upon officers arrival and started jumping fences. After a perimeter was set up and the helicopter searched for the suspect, he walked out of a back yard. The 38 yr. old suspect was arrested for the assault and warrant.
(176506) 6/11/09 @ 10:08 pm
Gateway West Area
Officers responded on a domestic violence call where a shotgun was fired. A couple of people in the neighborhood also heard the gun shot. No one was hurt, but a gun did go off. Both subjects were arrested on assault charges.
What do these incidents have in common?
Both were near one another in the Park View neighborhood (one on Muskrat Way, the other at Cowbird Court / Shrike Circle); both were domestic violence incidents; both involved officers in neighboring backyards; both involved arresting suspects and taking them to jail; both involved helicopters and K9 units.
What are the differences?
Sunday’s suspect ran and hid from officers upon their arrival, whereas Thursday’s suspects remained on scene. Thursday involved a shotgun gun being fired inside the home, but thankfully, nobody was injured except the misfortunate wall that took the brunt of the blast. The helicopter, police dogs, and officers conducted yard-to-yard searches in an active manhunt on Sunday, whereas the presence of the chopper and officers going into backyards on Thursday was only precautionary and helped to ensure a manhunt would not occur.
Is this a sign of things to come?
It’s anyone’s guess, but both Capt. Hahn and I agree that domestic violence is likely to upswing further relative to the state of our economy: financial troubles strain relationships, and pockets of our neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by housing bubble equity inversions, teaser mortgage rate resets, and foreclosures that often follow in an era when unemployment is the highest it has been in most of our working lifetimes.
Is there anything we can do?
Believe it or not, yes — and many of us are already doing it. Be mindful of your surroundings and continue to call SacPD on any and all suspicious activities — and that extends even to when we suspect violence inside our neighbors’ homes. This may be uncomfortable for some because of fear of retaliation: Capt. Hahn readily acknowledges this — risk of retaliation is sometimes real — and in those cases, callers can remain anonymous if they wish. Please keep in mind the risk of not calling — someone could get injured or even killed.
Loud bangs, whether gunshots or illegal fireworks/explosives — should we call the police?
Even if in doubt, call the police and advise on what you heard. It may turn out to be a low priority call for service, but sometimes we get lucky in that an officer may be in our area and is clear to respond quickly. Multiple calls from multiple addresses generally raise the importance of the incident. You never know — that “I’m not sure, but I think I may have heard a gunshot” call to police just might save someone’s life. It is never a bad idea to call police about possible gunshots, yet you might be surprised how often people don’t call on these or assume someone else will call. Always call, every time.
Are you, or do you know, a victim of domestic violence?
There are resources available. WEAVE provides crisis intervention services to women, men and children in Sacramento County who have experienced domestic violence or have been sexually assaulted. It is WEAVE’s mission to bring an end to domestic violence and sexual assault in partnership with our community. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship or has been sexually assaulted, call WEAVE’s 24-Hour Crisis Line at 916/920-2952 or visit their Web site at http://www.weaveinc.org/.
I’d like to extend heartfelt thanks to all of the officers who responded to these incidents and to the dispatchers who fielded questions from neighbors when police were on scene. We have gotten to know some of these great people in the course of our building partnerships, including Captain Hahn, and WRCA’S official neighborhood association liaison Officer Keith Long whose cell phone text messages in the aftermath of Sunday’s incident allowed me to update you all on the surrender of the suspect in that case. Many of you have met Officer Long at our monthly meetings — all the more reason to attend if you haven’t yet had the chance.
Finally, I’d like to thank all of you who share the roller-coaster ride, staying invested in our community. As I’ve said before, sometimes it is when the going gets tough that we learn who our real allies are — and this community has lots of them.
Keith Sharward is a co-founder and board member of Witter Ranch Community Alliance. He is also a member of the Natomas Crime & Safety Leadership Team and supports Angelique Ashby for City Council in 2010.