
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994                    TAG: 9406300016 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A14    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940630                                 LENGTH:

THINK AGAIN

{LEAD} I am appalled by the comment of Mike Simpkins, Suffolk Police Department public-information officer, that the Suffolk police ``don't see domestic violence as a police matter.'' How many women and children must die before this is a police problem?

How often must children be afraid to get on school buses in the afternoon because they are afraid Mommy will be dead when they get home? How often must children lose sleep during the night because of fighting and yelling at home, and then have teachers fuss the next day because they are falling asleep in class? How many times must mothers fear for the safety of their children, their very lives, because violent spouses are given unsupervised visitation rights?

{REST} I have seen children scared to leave school, too tired to concentrate, too upset to eat, too afraid of adults to trust that one of us can - and will - help.

Wake up, Hampton Roads. This is our problem. It is a serious, pervasive, life-threatening problem. Let us work together to stop abuse now!

CONNIE L. SALSGIVER

Portsmouth, June 29, 1994 by CNB