SATURDAY STORY - JANUARY 2, 2021

 SATURDAY STORY - JANUARY 2, 2021

Kara Farrell was almost dozing off.  She was standing next to the podium as the Governor was awarding her the Golden Badge for outstanding service for police work in the state of Texas.  She had many activities and as the Governor was listing all of them, she was smiling, and nodding casually, and not really paying attention!!

She was thinking back to her first domestic abuse case.  She had just graduated from the Texas Police Academy and was hired on by the Georgetown Police Department.

*****

I was assigned to a night shift as a rookie.  I was working with Dan Wisnewski patrolling the streets when the call came in from the dispatcher.  

The dispatcher said, “Suspected domestic abuse at 1416 Encino - apartment 107.”

We were the closest car in that area.  As part of my orientation, I had to score at least 90% on a test of 100 addresses, then score at least 80% on driving directions to 100 different addresses from random locations.  (And, I had passed the test on my first try).

I had been told that apartment buildings were one of the highest locations for domestic abuse.  And, the Stonecreek apartments were higher on the list as their rents were lower (and thus attracting those with lower socioeconomic status).

We covered the eight blocks in about two minutes.  Dan had been on the force for about seven years and liked the night shift.  I wasn’t sure if I liked working nights, but as a rookie, I didn’t get my pick.

We pulled up to the right building - building #1 and found that apartment 107 was around the back, so we ran to the apartment.  Dan knocked heavily on the door and we stood on either side of the door.  In really bad domestic abuse cases, there can be a shooter, and standing right in front of the door can get you blown away.

He yelled “POLICE, OPEN UP”.   There was no answer.

Again, he yelled “POLICE, OPEN UP”.  

This time there was a voice “Go away”.  That at least was a confirmation that we were in the right place.

Again, Dan yelled, “THIS IS THE POLICE, YOU MUST OPEN UP BEFORE I COUNT TO TEN”.  He started counting “One, Two, Three”.

Again, a yell “go away”

“Four, Five”.

The voice yelled from inside “Do you have a search warrant?”

Dad stopped his count and yelled, “We don’t need one for imminent danger, Six, seven”.

The door opened a crack.  I could see there was a chain holding the door from opening all the way.  A figure could be seen behind the door.  That person yelled, “Go away”.

Well, baby steps - the door was open a little and Dan didn’t have to yell as loud.  “Open up in the name of the police”.  Dan held his badge up to the crack in the door.  “I’m Officer Wisnewski.  Open up NOW”. 

I was reflecting back on my training in domestic violence.  This was the moment that all hell could break loose.  The person, generally a man, could get violent and shoot, or beat his wife bloody and then kill himself; or he could see that resistance wouldn’t do him any good and give up.  

Fortunately for us (and for him and his wife), he yielded and opened the door.  

“STEP BACK” Dan shouted.  The man stepped back.  Dan stepped across the threshold with his gun drawn.  He made a quick sweep of the room and I slipped in behind Dan, also with my gun drawn.  

Dan asked, “What’s going on here?” As he asked I spotted what I assumed was his wife cowering behind the sofa.  I could see blood streaming from her nose.

The man, maybe in his early thirties, scruffy beard, dark hair, about 5 foot 8 inches tall had backed away from the door towards the sofa.  

He answered in an angry voice “Nothings going on here.  Nothing”.

I did a quick scan of the room.  There was a kitchen table that had several cans of beer on it.  The cans appeared to be empty, maybe eight cans.  

Then as Dan questioned the man, I went to the woman - behind the couch.  

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She looked at me like she was deaf and mute.  

I put on my winning smile and asked again, “Honey, are you okay?”

This time, she quietly answered, “I don’t know.”

I looked her over - there was blood streaming off her nose.  I saw a box of Kleenex on the table and grabbed a handful and put them on her.  I wiped most of the blood off, and it looked like maybe she had a broken nose.  

“Hold these in place”, I said to her as I looked over other spots.  She used her right arm to hold the tissues on her nose.  

“Can you raise your left arm”?  I asked.

She started to, but it didn’t go up too far.  I went to her left side and tried to lift her left arm.  

“Tell me if this hurts”? I admonished.  

I got it up just a few inches and she moaned quite loudly.  “That hurts, huh?” I asked an obvious question and she nodded with some tears in her eyes from the pain.  

I started to feel her arm.  When I touched her elbow, she jumped. I looked closer.  Yes, it could be a dislocated elbow - or not - maybe it was just bruised.

Meanwhile, Dan was questioning the man.  “Did you hit her?” 

No answer, and again, Dan asked “Did you hit her?”

Again, no answer.  Dan looked over to me and the lady and asked “Did he hit you?”  She nodded her head’ yes’.  

“Was this the first time he hit you?” He continued with the lady.  

She answered quietly “No.”

Dan turned to the man “Can I see your driver’s license?”

The man said, “It’s in the bedroom”.  Dan carefully walked with the man to get his billfold.  

Meanwhile, I was trying to help the lady.

“What is your name?” I asked in a quiet, positive tone.  

“Erica”, she answered.

“Is he your husband?” I asked

“No, he’s my boyfriend.  He lives here.  I have a job and he spends the money on booze and drugs.”

 

Dan came out with the man from getting his billfold and looked at the ID, Russell McGuire.  He put it into his handheld computer and found that Rusty had previous convictions for domestic violence.  

Erica did opt to press charges.  And, Rusty was off the streets for a while.  I attended the trial and I urged that Rusty get counseling in domestic violence.

***

I had probably 200 similar domestic abuse cases in my work in Georgetown and Williamson County.  In too many such cases, the woman didn’t press charges (and frequently got beaten again).  In two cases, the man did shoot - once at his wife/girlfriend and then at himself - murder/suicide combination; and once at us (I learned to stay back from the door!!)

************

(at the awards ceremony)

The applause was sounding.  The governor had finished speaking and was giving Kara Farrell the award.  

That first case, some 24 years ago had started a career for Kara in domestic abuse cases.  Her work, seminars, YouTube videos, and blog had made a difference.  Women were standing up against abuse and pressing charges.  

Kara had lobbied for finances to support women and children in protective care - and won.  So, yes, today Kara Farrell was honored for her work - but it wasn’t the honor that made her happy down inside, it was the knowledge that she had helped many women survive toxic boyfriends, husbands, and relationships. 

**********

So, that is my first Saturday Story of 2021.  I’m not sure if it is a Pollyanna story or not.  Domestic Violence is not fun - but in this case, the woman got free, the man did get counseling and scared of being put away for life as a sexual predator!! 

Love does win.  Yes, couples don’t always see eye-to-eye, but we have to talk, work on understanding and communication, and even find a compromise in situations.  

HUGS!!

Karen