Yakima Police Taking Domestic Violence Seriously

It is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the statistics show women ages 20 to 24 are at the greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.

One in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime.

Yakima Police Capt. Rod Light says it is a crime that is taken very seriously given the volatile situations that can arise out of a domestic fight.

“If we respond to a call and determine someone has been assaulted we are mandated by state law to make an arrest, we don’t have a choice.”

Light says every domestic violence call requires two officers to respond to protect officers. He also says the police department works closely with the YWCA's domestic shelter for women who are left homeless or need to be removed from a domestic situation.