A Kennebec County sheriff’s deputy escaped a close call last week.
The officer was shot while answering a domestic assault call in Winslow. Luckily, Deputy Christopher Chase was wearing body armor that limited the damage of the bullet, which, instead of a gunshot wound, left him with a welt and a couple of stitches.
The incident is a reminder of the danger police officers face every day. Unfortunately, domestic violence calls in Maine are all too common and can be extremely dangerous. According to the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, a domestic assault is reported to police every 90 minutes, and 65 percent of the women killed in Maine between 2000 and 2003 died by the hands of their partner.
It’s a terrible situation for the families that are torn apart by the violence, and a difficult call for police officers who can never be sure what they’re getting into until they arrive at the scene.
Domestic violence is a serious crime that affects every community. The police take it seriously. So should the rest of us.
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