Domestic Violence Campaign

"Domestic Violence…It’s Everyone’s Business!"

In November 2011, Fargo Police, Prairie St. John’s and the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center launched a domestic violence awareness campaign titled, Domestic Violence…It’s Everyone’s Business. The campaign will continue throughout 2012. Television ads, radio announcements , print materials and promotional items call attention to domestic violence as an issue that is not to be considered “someone else’s business”, but rather highlighted as a problem that is “everyone’s business”.

The Public Service Announcement used Fargo residents to be the face and voice of this campaign goal, which is to encourage all members of the Fargo community to acknowledge the problem and participate in a solution. A teacher, a pastor, a child, police officers, a senior citizen were just a few of those portrayed in the TV PSA. TV PSAs can be viewed on the Fargo Police Website.

This campaign is the first phase of efforts to combat domestic violence in the Fargo community. Fargo Police Detective Chris Nichtern was assigned specifically as the Domestic Violence Detective in November 2011. His responsibilities will include the review and investigation of DV cases, serve as a liaison to agencies such as YWCA and Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, and identify habitual victims and victimizers to work towards long term solutions.

The Fargo Police Department also hosted training in February 2012 for local law enforcement and other service agencies to gain additional knowledge to aide in domestic violence investigations. The two-day course titled Domestic Violence Intervention and Investigation was presented by Mark Wynn, a national trainer to police executives, patrol officers, training officers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, social service providers, healthcare professionals and victim advocates on the topic of domestic violence.

The Fargo community can make this vision a reality, but only if we all work together, do not keep domestic violence “behind closed doors” and remember, Domestic Violence, It’s Everyone’s Business.