Domestic violence is a crime that is often overlooked and misunderstood as compared to other crimes the public hears about. Many times, domestic violence incidents only make the news when a victim has been killed or seriously injured. Those headline grabbing incidents are only the tip of the iceberg in comparison to the total number of domestic violence crimes reported each year.
Domestic violence is a serious crime, and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office is committed year-round to protecting victims of domestic violence and pursuing justice on their behalf. This month, in honor and recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Sheriff’s Office will be dedicating resources towards apprehending domestic violence offenders with outstanding arrest warrants in an operation termed, “Operation: Purple Rain.”
Several of the offenders that the Sheriff’s Office intends to target are believed to be out of state, having taken advantage of the fact that up to this point their warrants may have only been extraditable within the state of Colorado. Recognizing the egregious and often repetitive nature of domestic violence, the Sheriff’s Office has changed the extradition limits on all of its domestic violence warrants, seeking to bring justice to the victims, many of whom still reside in Colorado, and Yuma County.
Taking advantage of its partnerships with the US Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, the western United States regional Northwest Shuttle Program, and Colorado’s Transports Across Colorado (TAC), the Sheriff’s Office expects that it will be able to apprehend and extradite these offenders at minimal to no cost.
The Sheriff’s Office will be featuring the domestic violence fugitives on their Facebook page and website throughout the month, along with continued updates on the progress of the operation. A follow-up press release will be made in November to report the outcome of the operation.
Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office and its Victims’ Advocates Program will be engaging in several community efforts throughout the month of October to raise awareness of domestic violence and support for victims. Stay tuned to the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page and website for details.