In 'Respect Day' speech, woman tells abuse story

A police chief said domestic fights are the most dangerous calls for officers.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A woman who identified herself only as "Sue" told the crowd on the village square Wednesday, "I'm a victim of domestic violence."
Her now ex-husband, she said, "Choked me, broke my nose while I was sleeping, knocked me unconscious with a head butt, and threatened me with a knife. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone."
She said she later tried to talk to her pastor but he didn't know what to do.
Sue was one of the speakers who helped to spread the message that violence strikes children, adults and even the elderly.
The event was presented by the Tri-County Family Violence Coalition and sponsored by the Help Hotline Crisis Center and the Anthem Foundation of Ohio.
Similar events have been held in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
The goal was to promote "Respect Day" to always treat others with respect. Billboards throughout the area will reflect that message.
Sue said that as she rode with her husband, he asked her to pick out the telephone pole he would crash into to kill her.
A look at numbers
Statistics show that 58,000 American military personnel died during the Vietnam War. During the same period, Sue said, "51,000 women were killed, mostly by men who supposedly loved them."
Sue said women should not blame themselves, and they can restore peace in their lives.
One recommendation that was made is that people should have a safety plan for themselves and their children.
Brandon Fulsom, a junior at Salem High School, said that people may find bullies at their homes, schools, playgrounds and even at church, and they should tell their parents, teachers or police.
Being bullied, he told the crowd, "Isn't fun, is it?"
Bullies may be bullies because they want attention, are insecure, or may have been battered themselves, Brandon said.
Police chief's comments
Leetonia Police Chief John Soldano said the most dangerous calls for officers are domestic-violence cases.
He recalled a case in which a mother and a small child ran through a window of their home, got into a car and drove off to escape abuse.
The chief said the abusive man in the house fired two shots into the car as they drove off.
He said that Columbiana County is fortunate because it has a large number of resources to help victims of violence.
wilkinson@vindy.com