I know first hand what it's like to seek help for intimate partner violence and not to be taken seriously. The people I went to for help, at first listened, then didn't want to get involved because they knew my abuser and had a working relationship with him. Friends started to witness verbal abuse that happened out in public. They later told me I needed to contact Safe House for domestic violence. I did, they asked if I had been hit, yes, a few months ago. I was told that didn't count, they needed something physical happening right now. Wrong. There was other physical abuse, animal abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, that was active. I was given bad advice from the advocate so I didn't receive the immediate help I needed. The abuse intensified to my K9s and me.
Because of what I experienced at the hands of my intimate partner, the lack of prosecution for the abuse, I am helping those who are in a similar situation. My DV advocate at the woman's shelter did not come forward when she knew my abuser was staying with her in-laws and she'd have Sunday dinner with them and him. She knew he was court ordered to report where he was staying, he did not.
An immediate domestic violence protection order was issued by a judge, my intimate partner was removed from the home. I was then stalked and terrorized, he broke into the home, there was theft and vandalism. There are over 30+ violations that have been reported to the sheriffs department that my intimate partner had committed, evidence was overlooked, all violations of a court ordered DVPO. My abuser was in law enforcement and is a paramedic. My attorney let it slip that he had an agreement with the other attorney not to submit evidence to the county attorney to keep this from going before a judge. They were protecting the abuser from losing his LE credentials and paramedic license per WY state law.
I was told by one deputy ~ they wouldn't do anything unless I was physically beaten and bleeding and in the hospital. This is why a DVPO is ordered, to prevent it from escalating to this point.
The legal system needs to charge these abusers and stalkers, with the first offense they are caught committing. It has to be looked at it not as the first time they have committed such acts, but as the first time they've gotten caught. They are repeat offenders. Their acts are so bizarre, something a normal person wouldn't do.
Believe the person who comes forward to report this. They are putting their life on the line, but could also save another persons life who is now going through the same thing they went through with this abusive person.