14/09/2024
Way to go!
These brave construction workers did the right thing💪🏽
POSITIVE POLICING: Let’s get the weekend started right with another positive policing recipient. It is important to understand this positive policing moment may be difficult for some to hear. Domestic violence is a pattern of abuse, in many different forms, that plague our community. If you have been a victim of Domestic Violence, warning this story may be of greater impact to you.
Recently a female in a relationship who had protection order against her former boyfriend was actively being abused. In this instance the partner had grabbed the female by the face and hair, began assaulting her and eventually choking her when she attempted to discretely call 9-1-1. The suspect was armed with a knife and the victim was bleeding. The victim was forced to drive at which point she decided to stop in the roadway and make a run for a nearby construction site in Kennewick.
The victim encountered a group of construction workers who were diligently working away. The victim ran to the workers pleading for help with the suspect closing in. Without hesitation, this brave group of workers placed themselves between the female and the suspect. They even grabbed a 2x4 ready to defend the female from the approaching male. KPD officers arrived and detained the suspect. An investigation commenced and the male was arrested for a host of charges to include assault 2nd (DV), felony order violation and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence. In cases like this, the Prosecutor’s Benton County Prosecutor's Office reviews for additional charges as well.
This situation is horrible. The female should never have to experience this and is another example of how domestic violence affects so many in our community. However, the outcome of this incident is positive because of the selfless actions of the construction workers. The victim in this incident relayed to police that she felt the construction workers protected her. As we have pointed out before while we do not encourage citizens to engage with suspects and would rather you be a good witness, we believe looking after your neighbor and taking care of each other is a huge part of this program. In this instance, the construction workers absolutely did the right thing. We know that in domestic violence situations this ending could have been much different without their brave actions.
Officer Contreras awarded the group a positive policing $100 gift card. Please help us thank these fine men for helping make Kennewick a better place! If you are experiencing Domestic violence, know there are many resources out there ready to help break the cycle including Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties - DVSBF.
The positive policing program is made possible by the HAPO Community Credit Union and the KPD Foundation. The goal of the program is twofold. First is to promote and inspire those in our amazing community to make it safer by rewarding those who are selflessly doing random acts of kindness. We know the partnership between KPD and the community is key to making it a safer place for everyone. Secondly, our officers are often thrown into the worst of situations with the goal to make it safe and which sometimes requires holding offenders accountable. This program gives our officers an opportunity to also focus on the positive happening in the community creating an opportunity for great conversation! Being able to have that conversation could be beneficial for both the officer and the citizen. We know when we start having conversations, great things happen!
