Redondo Beach Police Beat: A nighttime stand against domestic violence
Ericka Gonzalez is no stranger to domestic violence, having grown up in a home where abuse was on full display.
When she was young, she promised herself that she’d one day fight for domestic violence victims — and after graduating from college, she said that the cause called back to her.
Now, she is the Domestic Violence Victims Advocacy program director for the Redondo Beach Police Department. On Saturday, October 17, she and the department will celebrate and remember domestic violence victims, volunteers and survivors at a candlelight vigil at City Hall.
Redondo’s Victim Advocacy program handles about 900 domestic violence cases each year, with 17 volunteer advocates making themselves available to assist victims of domestic violence 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Gonzalez said.
The advocates are involved from the first step in the process, which begins from the moment police officers recognize a domestic violence call, through trial and beyond, if needed.
“Some victims don’t want to go to a shelter…they may want counseling, or need guidance through paperwork, or any other process,” Gonzales said. “There’s no time limit.”
City prosecutor Melanie Chavira, who handles cases for both Redondo and Hermosa Beach, considers the program to be “a critical tool to combat domestic violence.”
“They’re able to step in and work, providing resources and support to make victims strong enough to get them out of these dangerous situations,” Chavira said. “For victims to hear that they’re not alone is a big step.”
Ensuring that victims aren’t alone, particularly through court proceedings, is a big help for both victims and city prosecutors. “I don’t have enough manpower to sit with them, so the advocates assist and make sure that victims feel safe, are informed and have a better experience than they otherwise would have,” Chavira said.
“It’s truly a privilege to be involved in people’s lives who are going through terrible things, and be there to support them and provide them with resources, or to just listen,” Gonzalez said. “That can make a world of difference, and I’m truly grateful to be a part of this group.”
The Seventh Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Candlelight Vigil begins at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, at 401 Diamond St. The event is free and open to the public. For more information on the event or the Domestic Violence Victims Advocacy Program, contact Ericka Gonzalez at 310-379-2477, ext. 2336. ER