YWCA recognizes local police who respond to domestic violence
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and on Monday the YWCA of North Central Indiana took time to recognize the law enforcement partners who have aided domestic violence victims.
According to the YWCA, in our area, four people have died of domestic violence in the last eight months.
This is a continuing trend, as in 2025 Indiana hit a record high of 100 reported domestic violence deaths. This is why local officers are using the "DALE technique" when people in danger call emergency services. DALE stands for danger assessment for law enforcement and is an 11-question evidence-based risk assessment tool which identifies people at the highest risk of intimate partner homicide and near lethal assault.
"Oftentimes they are the first ones on site." says President and CEO of YWCA North Central Indiana Amy Hill. "They may be the first individuals to recognize that there is a problem. Oftentimes people are not willing to talk about domestic violence. A woman may feel ashamed or scared or not know where to go. That's why it's so important to have those officers offering the resources of the YWCA."
Sending victims to the YWCA allows them to take shelter and start legal planning.
They also provide free counseling for victims and children, and economic empowerment training so they don't have to go back.
Domestic violence victims are often repeatedly victimized. The Coalition Against Domestic Violence reported a 70 percent increase in non-fatal strangulation of choking in Indiana this year. If a partner strangles you, it increases the likelihood of being lethal by 750 percent.
"Domestic violence is some of the most difficult and some of the most challenging and dangerous cases and calls officers can go on." said Capt. Kayla Miller of the Detective Bureau of the South Bend Police Department. "There's a lot of emotions in those moments. So, for our officers to be able to be recognized for the efforts at those times is really something for our department to be proud of but at the same time we also want to recognize the fact that there's somebody struggling in these moments and sometimes it's the darkest scariest moments of someone's lives and our officers are often the first ones on scene. I think it's important to recognize the victims, while we can't do that publicly, it's very important that victims of DV know that our officers are going to be compassionate."
The officers recognized were:
South Bend Police Department:
- Officer Ian Baker
- Officer Nathan Middlebrook
- Officer Evan Eckelbarger
- Officer Dieter Ruszkowski
- Officer Harrison Lanser
- Officer Kole Miller
St Joseph County Police Department:
- Patrolman Shane Kapp
- Corporal James Niedbalski
Mishawaka Police Department:
- Patrolman Second Class Ethan Nowacki
- Patrolman Second Class Mason Peak
- Patrolmen First Class Hunter Parsons
- Sargeant Brent Vanderzwaag
If you or a loved one is in a domestic violence situation, the YWCA and local police can help. Calling 911 or the 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-YES-YWCA will put you in contact with the right people.