Sheriff High Says Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team Report an Important Tool in County’s Response to Domestic Violence

Upper Marlboro, MD… Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High said the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DVFRT) Report and Recommendations released to the public yesterday is an “important tool in the County’s response to domestic violence.” High said that bringing the knowledge and experience of all the organizations that provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, into a collaborative process to improve and enhance the County’s response to these incidents is, “problem-solving at its best.”

The 2012 Report is the first issued since the DVFRT was established in legislation and first convened in Prince George’s County in 2007. The chair of the Team, and Managing Attorney for House of Ruth Maryland, Judith Wolfer, said she was pleased by the release of the first report, and to share the Team’s work with state and county officials, and with the public.

“I want to congratulate and thank Chair Judith Wolfer and all of the members of the Team for their work and the completion of this first, benchmark Report, “said Sheriff High. “Their work provides valuable guidance to those of us who work together every day to improve our response to domestic violence.” While the Report makes recommendations for law enforcement, court commissioners, parole and probation, the judiciary, domestic violence agencies and faith-based organizations, High said he was pleased by the DVFRT’s top recognition for law enforcement which called for wider use of the Domestic Violence Intervention - Supplemental Report – a critical on-scene investigative tool in domestic violence incidents - pioneered by the Office of the Sheriff. According to Sheriff High, following that one recommendation will help improve response countywide, increase access to services and assistance for victims, and contribute to case follow-up and prosecutions. “That is a goal I believe all of our partners share,” said High.    

A complete copy of the DVFRT Report and Recommendations is available at www.hruth.org/files/library/FRTReportandRecommendations2012.pdf.

For additional information, contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Press Information Office at 301-780-2773.

###

Prince George’s County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team Releases 2012 Report and Recommendations

                                      

                                                                               

Prince George’s County Domestic Violence

Fatality Review Committee

P.O. Box 187

Hyattsville, MD  20781

Upper Marlboro, MD…The Prince George’s County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team released its first Domestic Violence Fatality Review Report and Recommendations since the Team was initially convened in 2007.  Judith Wolfer, Managing Attorney for the House of Ruth Maryland and chair of the Team, said the 2012 Report was completed in January and distributed to the Governor, Prince George’s County Executive, county agency heads, law enforcement officials, and organizations providing services to victims of domestic violence. 

The purpose of Domestic Violence Fatality Review Teams is to study the facts surrounding domestic violence homicides and make recommendations aimed at improving a community’s response to these incidents, and to reduce or eliminate domestic violence-related deaths. Almost every county in Maryland now has a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. 

“We’re pleased by the completion of our first Report and the opportunity to share our work with state and county officials, and with the public, “said Judith Wolfer. “This is an important undertaking that can literally save lives.  I so appreciate the dedication and participation of all the partners in the completion of the Report.”  

Wolfer said the 2012 Report includes recommendations for Law Enforcement, Court Commissioners, Parole and Probation, the Judiciary, domestic violence agencies and faith-based communities.  “We have a diversity and strength of partners putting their powers of investigation into both the systemic causes of domestic violence homicides and their prevention.”

The bottom line of the Report according to Wolfer is the Team’s finding that proactive intervention at the first moment a victim seeks help leads to better evaluation and response by community agencies, which has a deterrent effect on domestic violence.  An important example of proactive on-site evaluation is addressed in the Report’s top recommendation for law enforcement – the suggestion that all County law enforcement agencies immediately begin to use the Domestic Intervention – Supplemental Report pioneered by the Office of the Sheriff or a similar form when responding to domestic violence emergency calls for service.

Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Colonel Regina Taylor, Bureau Chief of Field Operations said, “The Supplemental Report is critically important to the investigation of a domestic violence incident. The comprehensiveness of the report can be central to following up on a case and to court proceedings.”

Taylor said the Office of the Sheriff can review Supplemental Reports for law enforcement partners that don’t have specialized domestic violence units, and have the Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Advocates contact victims directly who may be in need of assistance. “The Report’s recommendation will improve Domestic Violence Response countywide, and will allow access to the assistance provided to victims by our Domestic Violence Advocates, “said Taylor.

Similar recommendations were made for court commissioners offices.  Court commissioners often see victims immediately after an abusive incident and therefore are critically important players in working to prevent domestic violence homicides. 

The Report notes that domestic violence incidents have risen every year that statistics have been kept in Prince Georges’ County.  From January through November of 2011 there were 12,979 domestic violence calls for service.  In 2010, the Report says that the 10,574 protective and peace orders filed in the County comprised one-fifth of all state filings.

“There is no question that there’s a great deal of work to be done, but our continuing review of domestic violence fatalities only strengthens our understanding of where we can make a difference in preventing future fatalities.  These Recommendations can focus our community’s ability to make important changes in the way we work with victims or perpetrators, and ultimately, prevent deaths,” said Wolfer. 

A complete copy of the Report and Recommendations is available at the House of Ruth:  http://www.hruth.org/files/library/FRTReportandRecommendations2012.pdf.  

For additional information, please contact Judith Wolfer from the House of Ruth Maryland, Inc., at (410) 554-8463.

###

Deputies Mentor at G. James Gholson Middle School

Cpl. William Harvey Sr.  and Cpl. Yadira Rodriguez-Washington of the Office of the Sheriff’s Community Partnership Unit speak with students at  G. James Gholson Middle School on Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Awareness. In addition, the interactive discussion included how students could be proactive in dealing with peer pressure in their schools and communities.

Sheriff's Deputies in eight Middle Schools engage students regularly as a way of understanding the variety of challenges that young people face and mentoring them through constructive processes for dealing with them. The Eight Schools are Drew-Freeman, Oxon Hill, Stephan Decatur, Thurgood Marshall, Thomas Johnson, Benjamin Stoddard, James Madison and G. James Gholson.

Sheriff’s Deputies/ U.S. Marshals Arrest Attempted 2nd Degree Murder Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Office of the Sheriff's Warrant Squad reported the arrest today of Carlos Monge-Martinez on an Attempted Second Degree Murder warrant obtained by County Police District I detectives on April 23, 2012.

According to the warrant, Monge-Martinez used a kitchen knife to stab his ex-girlfriend and attempted to stab a male after a physical altercation in the 7900 block of 18^th Avenue in Hyattsville, MD on April 23, 2012.

After investigating several locations in search of Monge-Martinez, Sheriff’s Deputies and members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested Monge-Martinez yesterday at a Red Bank, New Jersey address. He is being charged as a fugitive from Prince George’s County and is awaiting extradition. District I detectives were notified of his arrest.

In addition to Attempted Second Degree Murder, Monge-Martinez is also charged with two counts of First and Second Degree Assault, and Reckless Endangerment.

For more information, contact the Prince George's County Office of the Sheriff's Press Information Office at 301-780-8637.                                                            

                                                               ###

The Sheriff's Explorers Post 1696 Participates in the Annual Best Buddies Friendship Walk

The Sheriff’s Explorers Post 1696 provided a color guard for the 2012 Best Buddies Friendship Walk.  "Since 2009 Best Buddies has initiated a friendship walk that educates the public on the need for social inclusion, and empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become leaders within their community."  

 For More information on the Best Buddies Program visit: http://www.bestbuddiesmaryland.org/

SHERIFFS REMEMBER FALLEN AT CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL SERVICE

Upper Marlboro, MD… Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High, the Sheriff’s Office Command Staff and Sheriff’s Deputies began National Police Week on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 by joining other public safety partners at the annual Candlelight Memorial Service to pay tribute to all law enforcement officers who gave their lives in Prince George’s County.  The Service, sponsored by the Prince George’s County Police Command Officers’ Association was held in the County Council Hearing Room.  Ms. Jamey Arnaud, daughter of fallen Prince George’s County Deputy Sheriff Sergeant James Arnaud was the guest speaker.

Sergeant Yakeisha Hines read a poem dedicated to fallen Deputy Sheriff First Class (DFC) Elizabeth Magruder with whom she became close friends while they were police academy classmates.  Sergeant Arnaud and Deputy First Class Magruder were killed while attempting to serve an emergency psychiatric order on August 29, 2002.  Each was survived by spouses and children, in addition to friends and colleagues within the Office of the Sheriff.

Sheriff’s Office Command Staff escorted Ms. Arnaud and Sgt. Hines as they lit candles during the service in honor of Sergeant Arnaud and DFC Magruder.  Retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kiker played “Taps” at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Sheriff High said “This solemn event pays tribute to the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving the citizens of Prince George’s County.  It’s a time when family, friends and law enforcement officers share and remember loved ones and colleagues.  As Sheriff, I and this entire agency still grieve for Sgt. Arnaud and DFC Magruder and their families.”

This event is one of the first of many in the region associated with National Police Week which began in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15^th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.  Today, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world come to Washington, D.C. during the week to participate in a number of planned events which honor fallen officers.

For more information, contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office Press Information Office at 301-780-7354.

###        

Sheriff’s Warrant Deputies Arrest Robbery Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Office of the Sheriff's Warrant Squad arrested Jesse Young Friday on a Robbery warrant obtained by County Police (PGPD) District I detectives on April 28, 2012.
According to the warrant, Young is alleged to have assaulted and robbed a woman of her purse and attempted to assault another male who tried to assist her, in the 8600 block of Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD.

On May 4, 2012 Sheriff Deputies located Young at an address in the 6100 block of Hemlock Way, Clinton MD. He was arrested and transported to the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections where he is being held on a $50,000.00 bond. District I detectives were notified of his arrest.

In addition to Robbery, Young was also charged with two counts of First and Second Degree Assault, two counts of Reckless Endangerment and Theft: Less than $1,000.00.

For more information, contact the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office Press Information Office at 301-780-8637.

###