Yarmouth Police to Hire Domestic Violence Victim Specialist/Advocate

YARMOUTH – The Yarmouth Police Department will be hiring a trained civilian to help combat domestic violence and sexual assault within the community.

According to the department, domestic violence has been the number one call reported to police for several years.

For nearly a decade, Yarmouth Police have sought funding for the position from the competitive Violence Against Women Act grant program and were finally successful in 2017.

Alas, the grant only amounts to $55,000, 75% of what the department wants to pay the new, full-time Victim Specialist/Advocate.

At their meeting this week Yarmouth selectmen, at the request of police, voted unanimously that the town would cover the remainder of those salary costs allowing the position to be filled as soon as a qualified candidate can be found.

Tracy Post, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen said that this new position will help connect victims with the resources that they need after the initial incident. She hopes that this could lead to an overall reduction in domestic assault,

“Not only is domestic assault dangerous for the victim, it is also dangerous for our police officers,” said Post, “It is one of the most dangerous calls to go to. So if we can reduce secondary calls it would greatly help the security and the safety of not only the citizens but the police officers.”

By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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