WICHITA—The Wichita Police Department (WPD) and area Domestic Violence (DV) providers are seeing an increase in violent DV incidents since the beginning of the stay-at-home put into place to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Wichita has seen a 65% increase in aggravated battery – DV cases and a 39% increase in the aggravated assault – DV cases when compared to the average of the past three years during the same period. The stay-at-home order went into effect for Sedgwick County on March 25.
“Even amidst this current pandemic, WPD continues to diligently investigate DV related crimes that affect our city’s families and prosecute those responsible, WPD Chief Gordon Ramsay said. “If you know of someone in a dangerous situation, please reach out, resources are available.”
If you know of someone in a dangerous domestic relationship, please reach out to one of the following resources: Call 911; National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter, 263-6000; Wichita Family Crisis Crisis Center, 267-7233; Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, 263-3002; StepStone, 265-1611; or The