Statistics show Mounties responded to more than 5,500 family violence calls in 18 months
CBC News Posted: Nov 25, 2016 12:11 PM AT Last Updated: Nov 25, 2016 12:11 PM AT
RCMP in New Brunswick respond to about 10 calls a day involving domestic violence, according to new statistics released by the force.
To mark family-violence prevention month, the RCMP released information showing its members responded to 1,940 reports involving domestic violence in the first six months of 2016 and 3,571 such calls in 2015.
"It is important to remember that these numbers don't capture the entire scope of what is happening across the province," says a release by Supt. Rick Shaw. "Police know that what they see, the incidents that lead to them being called, are just the tip of the iceberg.
"It is understood that by the time police become involved, a victim may have experienced violence many times in the past.
"We know that many cases are never reported to police and the toll of violence is far greater than what we can measure."
2 Mounties killed in 1978
In its statement released Friday, the RCMP notes that Cpl. Barry Warren Lidstone and Const. Joseph Brophy were killed in Hoyt on Jan. 6, 1978, when they were providing help in a domestic dispute.
The two Mounties were accompanying a woman to her ex-husband's home to retrieve her daughter. After having what appeared to be an agreeable conversation with the man, the officers told the woman she could come inside the house to get her daughter. The man then excused himself and said he would be back with "a surprise," which was thought to be a gift for his daughter.
The man returned with a rifle and before the night was over, the two RCMP officers and the woman were killed and the man committed suicide.
'This is a serious crime that can and has resulted in deaths in our province.' - RCMP statement
The Hoyt incident has been used as a training scenario at the RCMP Depot in Regina.
"RCMP members know that as with any situation that has escalated to violence, the results can be unpredictable," says the RCMP statement. "Emotions are often running high, and this can make such situations even more dangerous for all involved.
"This is a serious crime that can and has resulted in deaths in our province. Its causes are varied and complex, and it is our hope that by continuing to talk about the issue, we can play a role in helping to create meaningful change."