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Standing up against domestic abuse

By LORRI HELFAND
Published April 23, 2006

"Abusers are losers.''

By the end of April, he's going to post the message on a billboard on southbound U.S. 19 near East Bay Drive. The billboard, which will say, "REAL MEN DON'T HIT WOMEN & CHILDREN,'' will kick off a campaign aimed at raising awareness of domestic violence.

The department also plans to produce a 30-second commercial on the subject and develop brochures to educate children.

"I wanted to bring it out into the open because it's still a dirty little secret in many households," Aradi said.

In recent years, the domestic violence rate has decreased both state and countywide. Some municipalities, including Clearwater and Tarpon Springs, have seen little fluctuation in reports of domestic violence.

Largo, however, has seen an increase in domestic violence.

Statewide, reports of domestic violence decreased by 2.4 percent from 2004 to 2005, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Countywide, domestic violence reports dropped from 6,813 in 2004 to 6,629 in 2005, said Pinellas County sheriff's Deputy James Butterfield, domestic violence investigator. The Sheriff's Office handled 2,538 of those calls, Butterfield said. And reports have not increased in recent years despite an increase in population.

But Largo's numbers were not as favorable.

Crime in Largo dropped by 6.4 percent from 2004 to 2005. But domestic violence increased by about 9 percent during a period when the city's population rose by about 3 percent. There were 900 reports of the crime last year in Largo, which currently has a population of about 76,000.

The chief and others think Largo's rise in domestic violence is partially due to residential annexations. Increased awareness and enforcement in Largo could have an impact as well, said Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor.

"We look to (Largo) as being the aggressive authority on domestic violence'' Shelor said.

So far, the campaign is being paid for by a $20,000 contribution from Pinch-A-Penny pool supplies. Clear Channel Outdoor has agreed to provide billboard space at a reduced rate for three months and has also donated additional space for smaller public service signs.

Since the 1990s, Largo's Police Department has partnered with the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office and the Haven of RCS, a nonprofit that supports victims of domestic violence, in a project aimed at collecting evidence of abuse to help prosecutors.

Frieda Widera, a Largo police domestic violence intervention specialist, said the reason for the increase doesn't matter.

"I don't think we need the campaign because we have an increase in (domestic violence) numbers," she said. "The reason we have a campaign is that we have numbers at all."

The majority of the Largo City Commission supported Aradi's project, but Commissioner Gay Gentry was not impressed by the billboard, especially since its price tag is $11,000.

"I'm not going to support this, simply for the fact you could do better with the $11,000,'' she said. "I'd like to see you go back to the drawing board."

Linda Amidei, executive director of the Haven of RCS, said the billboard is just one component of a multifaceted approach.

"The billboard will have an impact and be seen by a much greater number of people than almost any avenue that could be taken,'' Amidei said. "We really need to work at social change. People's attitudes and ideas need to begin to change.''

That stretch of the road sees an average of 53,500 motorists daily.

Eric Burrell of St. Petersburg, who completed a batterers intervention program, said the billboard could help abusers start thinking about what they're doing to their families and maybe seek help.

"Most of the time when men are abusive, it's because of insecurity,'' said Burrell, 41.

The Haven will work with Largo police to hone its message and create pamphlets for children to prevent domestic violence. Aradi said he wants to educate children that violence of all forms is wrong to make sure they don't see abusive people as role models.

Aradi said he hopes to recruit local celebrities and sports stars to take part in the commercial spot, which will air on the city's television station LTV Channel 15 and other local cable stations. He said the message will speak out against all forms of violence including rape and animal abuse.

[Last modified April 23, 2006, 11:11:26]