Calumet City enters next steps with newly created domestic violence task force

Calumet City is moving forward with a domestic violence task force created as an extension of the Chicago-Cook County Violence Against Women Taskforce, spearheaded by Ald. Monet Wilson (2nd). 

According to Wilson’s office, the next steps include creating appointments for victims, organizational planning, and establishing taskforce procedures.

Calumet City’s advisory task force will identify solutions and include representatives of the city leadership, law enforcement, legal professionals, victim services, community organizations, mental health and subject matter experts.  

At the moment, the task force has no separate budget. The city will leverage existing city and county resources along with grants, according to Wilson’s office. However, Wilson desires $250,000 set aside as a line item for work specific to Calumet City. “As the task force develops priorities, recommendations regarding future funding needs may be presented to the City Council for consideration,” Wilson’s office said.

Its responsibilities will include:

• Reviewing existing city policies and recommending improvements.
• Identifying barriers survivors face when seeking help;
• Improving coordination between city departments and community partners.
• Developing training for city employees and elected officials;
• Promoting public awareness and prevention efforts;
• Recommending workplace accommodations and protections for employees impacted by domestic violence; and 
• Making recommendations to improve reporting procedures and survivor access to services.

“Imagine a mother taking her son to the park, only to encounter the person accused of battering her who still has an outstanding domestic battery warrant,” Wilson’s office wrote in an emailed statement.

“While every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, an unserved warrant means the case has not yet been resolved. For many survivors, that reality creates fear that they could encounter the accused before the justice system has the opportunity to act,” the statement continued.

According to a county report cited by Wilson’s office, there are 72,000 outstanding warrants in Cook County. Of that number, 20 percent — or 14,400 — had domestic violence offenses listed as the most serious, or lead, charge.

The task force won’t operate in lieu of the justice system, but pushes justice to include more than arrests, Wilson’s office wrote. “It includes ensuring survivors are believed, informed of their rights, connected to services, accommodated in the workplace when appropriate, and not forced to navigate the system alone.”

Calumet City’s taskforce has been challenged to increase its efforts by August in order to be part of phase two of the county’s efforts, Wilson said. “The Alderwoman saw a need for accurate data and representation,” Wilson’s office wrote. One week later, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller introduced a resolution requesting updates on efforts to implement the report’s recommendations. “Commissioner Donna Miller needs all hands on deck to provide resources and policies that save lives.”

Wilson also pointed out the effectiveness of the main county task force overall, saying that crimes against women have dropped by 53 percent through their work, a figure backed up by the report.

First responders honored for storm response

Calumet City firefighters garnered praise from city officials in their handling of storm related emergencies on June 14. 

Fire Chief Glenn Bachert gave a presentation commending the work of dispatchers, police, fire crews and other city officers for the collaborative efforts and professionalism in attending to broken gas mains, downed power lines, downed trees, and health emergencies. In particular, Bachert commended the efforts of Fire station 1 in responding to a mother whose daughter was trapped in her bed by a fallen tree.

Station captain Michael Ball evacuated the surrounding homes due to a ruptured gas main and had the jaws of life and other equipment brought in from engine 11 to remove the tree. The victim was taken to hospital and recovered. Ball and others were presented the Unit Citation Award for their actions. Captain Ball was also commended for handling a house fire at 159th St. and Price Ave.