The town of Cochrane has hired more personnel to address a rising domestic violence problem in the community.
In January, a domestic violence co-ordinator position was added to the Cochrane RCMP detachment. The new position will help assist with and review domestic violence cases in the community.
“My position is here and if people have any questions with domestic violence, I am working and listening and want to help them out the best I can and if I can’t help them then I can help them find resources with the community partners we have to assist them,” said Cst. Courtney Currie, Cochrane’s first domestic violence co-ordinator.
Currie has 10 years experience with the RCMP and has lived in Cochrane for the last four and a half years. She said she accepted the position because she wanted to “help people.”
“I have seen where people are involved in domestic violence time and time again and I want to help them understand that it is something they shouldn’t be living with and it is not healthy in a relationship and I can understand if they want to continue in the relationship but something needs to change,” Currie said.
“There is a lot of domestic violence in the area – the recession is probably not helping.”
As the domestic violence co-ordinator, Currie works with the General Investigation Section of the detachment and in partnership with Cochrane Victim Services and Family & Community Support Services (FCSS).
Victim services helps assists domestic violence victims, along with sexual assault victims and those affected by sudden death, suicide, motor vehicle collisions, assault, harassment, break and enter, theft, and other traumatic crimes, which have negatively impacted lives.
In 2015 Cochrane Victim Services opened 501 new case files and helped assist 630 clients in relation to those types of cases.
“I think people are coming forward more and I think there is more of an awareness about (domestic violence) now,” Currie said.
As the domestic violence co-ordinator for Cochrane, Currie reviews all the domestic violence cases, spends one day a week in court to help the Crown Prosecutor with the cases, and can help victims with emergency protection orders or if they want to discuss restraining orders.
“We have more stringent policies to follow and the police have taken a more serious and proactive role in helping with the victims and helping the offenders get the assistance they need,” Currie said.
Currie said domestic violence cases are not simple and can be listed under a range of different reported crimes including assault, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, sexual assault, family orders and child custody orders. According to the annual RCMP Mayors Report, in 2015 there were 155 reported assaults, 26 reported sexual assaults and 68 reports of uttering threats. In 2014, there were 179 reports of assault, 13 reports of sexual assault and 15 cases of uttering threats reported.
“To the victims, it is not right. People should not be hitting you even though they love you and you live with them, it needs to be reported and we are here to help,” Currie said.
“To the offenders, no matter your level of frustration, it shouldn’t be taken out on the people you love.”
To speak with Currie about domestic violence, she can be reached at the Cochrane RCMP detachment at 403-851-8000, located at 359 First Street East.
