Mounting financial pressures may cause couples to argue more, resulting in more domestic violence cases, a top sheriff’s supervisor said.
“People get in trouble over finances, causing arguments when people are under pressure to pay the house note,” said Chief Deputy Virgil Gammon. “Some resort to drinking and fighting.”
Domestic violence is already the sheriff’s office’s No. 1 crime with 1,515 reports in 2008.
Crime rose 14.4 percent with 4,609 crime reports in 2007 to 5,273 crime reports in 2008. Sheriff’s deputies answered 40,300 calls for service
Because of a lack of manpower, Detective Capt. Preble Acton said supervisors assign only the most serious cases to the two detectives assigned to work domestic violence. Last year, the two detectives investigated 374 cases.
“That’s a lot of cases for two people to handle,” Acton said, adding it takes constant follow-up with victims when the offender tries to contact the victim, violating bond conditions and orders of protection.
“Since orders of protection can go on for one year, detectives may be involved in the investigation for one year,” Acton said.
Domestic Violence Program advocates help the detectives by getting victims counseling, places to live and jobs.
Acton is seeking two more detectives to work the cases but County Mayor Ernest Burgess has already set a hiring freeze for adding county employees.
Crime breakdown
One of three murders last year was related to a domestic situation.
Estranged husband Royce Mitchell Markam, 59, shot his wife, Joyce Anne, 40, and himself in March at her Readyville home.
In another case, victim Lanny Travis, 25, died when stabbed during a party June 29 at J.D. Todd Road. Defendant Christopher Todd Ridgeway, 26, was scheduled to be in Circuit Court next week for a plea.
The third victim was Jesus De Mendoza Valencia, whose body was found Jan. 1 in a ditch near the Wilson County line. He did not have any identification so it took some time for detectives to identify him.
“As of right now, we are looking for two undocumented Hispanic suspects,” Acton said. “We are working with ICE (federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents) to try to locate these subjects.”
Robberies dropped from 12 to 7 in the two years while aggravated assaults rose from 153 in 2007 to 196 in 2008.
Cases of a violent nature like homicides, robberies and aggravated assaults take priority over property crimes like burglaries of homes and cars and thefts, she said.
Because of the limited number of detectives to investigate, supervisors must prioritize the cases.
“These guys want to solve every case I give them but I have to prioritize,” Acton said. “We understand there’s a (budget) crunch. Despite what some people think, we work with what we have and do the best we can. We do care.”
Detectives investigated 616 burglaries and 355 thefts, recovered $540,143 in stolen property and arrested 245 adults and juveniles on 603 counts last year. Of the 2,162 cases assigned, detectives cleared 1,280.
Supervisors will assign most major burglaries and thefts but probably will not assign thefts of property and vandalisms with loss under $500 unless there is a pattern of similar crimes in one neighborhood.
Acton realized victims aren’t happy when their cases aren’t investigated but she maintained the detectives must use their resources wisely.
County residents can help deter crime by calling the sheriff’s office immediately at 898-7770 when they spot suspicious people or vehicles in their neighborhood. Deputies can check the suspicious person or vehicle.
“It’s not going to hurt to check it out,” Acton said.
People may contact Deputy Jimmy Cassidy of the Crime Prevention Division at 904-3019 about starting a Neighborhood Watch program in their subdivision.
Sgt. James Harrell said the program encourages neighbors to join forces with the sheriff’s office to prevent criminal activity in their neighborhood.
Acton said residents can prevent auto burglaries by taking valuables out of their vehicle.
“Criminals are basically lazy and won’t work hard at anything,” Acton said, explaining they probably won’t take time to break into a car when they don’t see items such as purses or laptops inside.
With the present economy, Acton expects burglaries, thefts, frauds and identity theft cases to rise.
“People are hurting when they don’t have any money, they lose their jobs or something gets repossessed,” Acton said. “It’s very frustrating.”
Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.
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