October is National Domestic Violence Month: Raising awareness in Eden Prairie

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

How prevalent is domestic violence?

In the United States, one in three women and one in four men will experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetimes.

According to one expert, the frequency of domestic violence is “increasing at a rapid rate.”

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This trend seems to hold true in Eden Prairie. According to city spokesperson Joyce Lorenz, 84 cases of domestic assault were reported to the police department in 2023, resulting in 60 arrests. As of Oct. 9, there have already been 76 cases in 2024, with 64 arrests. However, there were 96 cases reported in 2022.

Lorenz noted that the Eden Prairie Police Department’s Oct. 8 blog post provides additional information and resources on domestic violence awareness.

“On average, one out of three times a cop steps out of their squad car in this country, it is to respond to a domestic abuse call,” said Lissa Weimelt, co-founder of Maria’s Voice, an educational and advocacy group devoted to domestic violence issues.

Weimelt and her husband, Bill Pew, of Chaska, founded Maria’s Voice after their daughter, Maria Pew, 28, was murdered by her then-husband in 2020.

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Maria’s Voice has become a force in raising awareness on the issue, especially after receiving a $259,000 federal grant facilitated by U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a Democrat representing Minnesota’s 3rd District.

“Thanks to the grant, we’ve been able to implement awareness and training programs in 15 cities, including Eden Prairie,” Weimelt said. “We were at Eden Prairie’s recent PeopleFest.”

The city has also conducted training sessions to familiarize employees with various aspects of domestic violence.

According to the police department’s blog on domestic violence, posted the second week in October, police recognize that many incidents go unreported.

According to the police department’s blog on domestic violence, many incidents go unreported.

In 2006, the Eden Prairie Police Department established the Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) after a sergeant responded to a domestic call and recognized that early intervention in nonviolent situations could help prevent an escalation to violence. DART officers get involved in domestic disturbance situations early on, often before violence occurs. In 2023, DART officers followed up on 142 cases of domestic violence. The officers work to earn the trust of victims and encourage them to seek help, specifically at Sojourner, a nonprofit comprehensive domestic violence program and partner of the EPPD.

Weimelt suggests that anyone seeking further information on domestic violence issues call the Minnesota Day One Crisis Line at 1-866-223-1111 or the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).