PD: More homicides this year were domestic violence incidents

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDESARE UP SHARPLY IN CINCINNATI.THAT HAS CINCINNATI POLICEAND COMMUNITY ADVOCATESWORRIED THE TREND WON'TCHANGE.

WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTERJOSH BAZAN EXPLAINS HOW THEISSUE IS INCREDIBLY PERSONALFOR ONE CINCINNATI POLICEOFFICER.Officer Shameka Jackson/losther cousin in domesticviolencehomicide"She really didn'tdeserve this like any othervictim."39-YEAR-OLD DEBORAHEVANS DIED ON APRIL 25TH WHENHER EX-BOYFRIEND CRAIG TIMSSHOT AND KILLED HER IN COLLEGEHILL.

CINCINNATI POLICEOFFICER SHAMEKA JACKSON SAYSLOSING HER COUSIN LIKE THATSHOCKED THE ENTIRE FAMILY.Officer Shameka Jackson"Very sweet person.

Wouldn'tharm a fly.

She was a mother.She was a daughter.

She was acousin."OFFICER JACKSON SAYSTIMS SAID SOME CONCERNINGTHINGS TO EVANS, WHICH SHETOLD HER COUSIN TO TELLPOLICEOFFICER JACKSON IS NOTSURE IF EVANS TOOK HERADVICE, AND SHE ONLY FOUND OUTAFTER HER DEATH TIMS HAD BEENSTALKING THE WOMAN AS WELL.Officer Shameka Jackson/"When this happened we alltalked about it and we talkedabout how we have to check inwith one another."KristenShrimplin/President and CEO ofWomen HelpingWomen"If someone comes to youand says I'm experiencingthis, please tell them youbelieve them.

Please tell themit's not their fault.

Pleasetell them there is help forthem."SO FAR IN 2021, POLICESAY 15 PERCENT OF HOMICIDES INTHE CITY HAVE BEEN DOMESTICVIOLENCE RELATED.

FORPERSPECTIVE, ONLY FIVE PERCENTOF HOMICIDES IN ALL OF 2020WERE CONNECTED TO DOMESTICVIOLENCE.

AND THAT NUMBER WAS4 PERCENT IN 2019.Lt.

Col.Lisa Davis/InvestigationsUnit, Cincinnati PoliceDepartment"So we've seen adramatic increase in thehomicide deaths related todomestic violence."THAT'S WHYOFFICER JACKSON, ALL OF C-P-DAND THE ORGANIZATION "WOMENHELPING WOMEN" ARE TRYING TOBRING ATTENTION TO DOMESTICVIOLENCE AND AWARENESS ABOUTAVAILABLE RESOURCES.

BUT WHILEHOMICIDES AND CALLS CONTINUETO GO UP, WOMEN HELPING WOMENSAYS THE CITY'S FUNDING FORITS DVERT PROGRAM IS GOINGAWAY.

DVERT ALLOWS TRAINEDPROFESSIONALS TO RESPONDALONGSIDE CINCINNATI POLICE TOSUPPORT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTICVIOLENCE AND CONNECT THEM WITHRESOURCES."Well the city manager put outthe budget and we're not init.

So what changed?

Whydivest now in community safetyresponses?"SUPPORTERS BROUGHTTHOSE CONCERNS TO CITY HALLWEDNESDAYAFTERNOON."The critical need for DVERTis clear.

This is not the timeto cut funding for a programwith positive outcomes."" cincinnati has until the endof the month to approve abudget.

Craig tims was founddead of an apparent suicide 12days after evans died.

AtCincinnati Police District 1,JB WCPO 9News."