By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — A slew of domestic violence cases allegedly committed by professional football players viewed by some as national heroes has members of Wakefield Alliance Against Violence (WAAV) and the Police Department shaking their heads.
“If I commit a felony, I lose my job,” said Wakefield’s Police Chief Rick Smith. “You have to play by the rules.”
In recent weeks four football athletes — Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens), Greg Hardy (Carolina Panthers), Adrian Peterson (Vikings) and Ray McDonald ( ‘49ers) — have hurled the topic into the spotlight. All have been criminally charged with committing domestic violence against women and children.
Smith called domestic violence an “unacceptable crime” and that football players should be treated like anyone else.
“You’re held to a higher standard when you’re a celebrity or athlete,” he said. “You’re in a position of trust.”
Bob Eldgridge, president of WAAV, said that because of the crimes allegedly committed by Rice, Hardy, Peterson, McDonald and other athletes, domestic violence is once again in the spotlight.
He mentioned the program Middlesex District Atty. Marian Ryan is bringing to hair and nail salons and massage therapy businesses where beauticians and technicians are being taught how to look for evidence of domestic abuse, including bruises and cuts on a victim’s body.
“I’d like to bring Atty. Ryan to Wakefield’s salons,” said Eldridge. “That’s a goal.”
In the meantime, WAAV is helping to combat the problem by giving women palm cards that list resources and phone numbers for them to contact if they become victims.
“It’s like having a hotline in your hand,” said Eldridge. “We’ve been placing the palm cards in churches and other public places where people congregate.”
Eldridge’s group is planning to meet next Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. in the WCAT studio to continue the war against domestic violence. On the agenda is the “rebooting” of the palm card program and the creation of a new sticker shaped like a STOP sign that reads “Domestic Violence” with WAAV’s logo underneath. The new sticker will be an adjunct to another sticker created by the group that read “Got civility?”
WAAV members will also explore bullying that might be happening within the high school’s teams and bring in a guest speaker from Northeastern University who specializes in this topic. Members are also considering bringing Atty. Ryan’s program to student beauticians at the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School on Hemlock Road.
“Some youths today are striking out to get back at their parents who might be ‘helicoptering’ them,” said Eldridge, adding that he has never been one to believe in corporal punishment while raising children, a crime Peterson allegedly committed against his son.
“When I was a kid, my father might threaten us with a belt but it never came to anything. A threat goes a long way.”
Eldridge said that the town’s Police Department receives about 300 calls every year from people reporting domestic violence.
“I announced this at a WAAV benefit and the audience gasped,” he said.
But due to a new statute passed over the summer, domestic violence incidents are no longer making it into the police log.
“We can’t share any information until the cases are past arraignment,” said the police chief. “This is a good thing since it protects victims. Some women don’t come forward due to financial concerns and the fear of being vilified in their neighborhood. We’re working to help these women.”
The push is on in Wakefield schools, too — particularly at the Galvin Middle School where anti-bullying sessions have been held every morning. Now, brief anti-bully sessions are being held before students are released for the day.
“Schools are dealing with the issue every day,” said Eldridge. He added, however, that the tight high school curriculum does not allow time for “socialization” classes.
“But when Dr. Kim Smith heard about and saw The Yellow Dress in the spring, she said she wanted it repeated every year.” (The Yellow Dress is a one-woman performance that shows how a relationship that seems loving in the beginning can turn violent over time.)
Chief Smith commented: “It’s sad for our youth that in our world they don’t have a chance to see real heroes. The only ones we hear about are people like Aaron Hernandez. The Pedroias of the world — athletes who work hard and go home to their families after a game — we don’t hear about them.”
WAAV, first organized by Chief Smith in 2007, is looking for new members. Meetings are held once a month on a designated morning at the WCAT studio.
Contact Eldridge at 781-246-1825 for more information.
