The number of family disputes and domestic violence incidents reported to New Canaan police roughly doubled year-over-year in the summer months, officials say.
From July 2013 to July 2014, the number of family disputes—incidents which do not necessarily involve domestic violence—increased from 34 to 56; in August year-over-year, from 29 to 62, according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski.
The data could indicate that more residents are calling police for help, Krolikowski said Wednesday during a meeting of the Police Commission, held in the department’s training room.
Domestic violence incidents year-to-date have increased from 34 at this time in 2013 to 62 so far this year in the same timeframe, the chief said.
“It’s huge,” Krolikowski said of the increase. “And that is one of those crimes that it’s hard for us to prevent or affect its occurring. [The total] is probably triple that number in reality. It’s greater. We can only put the awareness out there and the fact that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we make people more aware and call us so that we can intervene early, before something happens.”
The chief added that during a recent meeting of the New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership, a discussion ensued around an effort to put forward a state law through the town’s delegation to the Connecticut General Assembly that would require judges to issue protective orders in all cases of domestic violence. In one local case earlier this year, Krolikowski said, one judge’s decision not to do so had an unwanted result.