Hitting Close To Home Police Find `Dvs’ Frustrating, Scary

For police, domestic violence calls are frustrating and dangerous. Flying fists or loaded weapons are not uncommon at family fights, often fueled by booze.

“If there was no such thing as alcohol, we wouldn’t have a job,” said Spokane Officer William Hager. “Ninety percent of the people we deal with on graveyard DVs are intoxicated.”

“They want to fight,” said Spokane Cpl. Cliff Walters, who works on the city’s North Side. “Usually they’ll redirect their anger right at us.”

“You come into their home and now you’re the bad guy to both parties,” said Sgt. Tim Parker of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Deparment.

Many victims deny the abuse when police show up or refuse to let the officers inside. Unless neighbors or other witnesses actually saw the abuse, police cannot force their way in.

“It’s frustrating.On the way out, you have to tell her you’ll be seeing her again,” Hager said. “Because you will. Again and again.”