Domestic violence has spiked on the Island in recent months, as the constraints of isolation and stressors of an ongoing pandemic heighten the risk of home violence and complicate support services.
Among the trends are an increase in domestic assault and battery charges and high numbers of both restraining orders and restraining order violations. The increases mirror a national trend that has seen rates of domestic violence rise across the country during the pandemic. Even more striking on the Island is that while the rates of domestic violence have gone up, calls for help to support services have mostly stayed flat, signaling that victims of abuse locked at home with their abusers in many incidences due to the pandemic face even greater barriers to seek support.
The Martha s Vineyard Times
Update: Island first responders start getting vaccine
Majority of Island first responders say they’ll get the shots.
Mark Bettencourt receiving post-vaccination instructions from a nurse at Martha s Vineyard Hospital Friday. Jeremy Driesen
Belle Dinning getting vaccinated by Laura Hilliard, RN. First responders were among the first Islanders to receive the shots against COVID-19. Jeremy Driesen
Belle Dinning in the post-vaccination holding area. Patients were asked to stay there for 15 minutes after their vaccination and before departing the hospital. Jeremy Driesen
Laura Hilliard, RN, awaits her next vaccination patient. Jeremy Driesen
Alex Schaeffer, Edgartown Fire Chief, arrives for his vaccination at Martha s Vineyard Hospital. Jeremy Driesen
The Martha s Vineyard Times
Police reform act becomes law
Gov. Baker signs, after legislative adjustments are made.
Local activist Lisette Williams, left, Edgartown Police Chief Bruce McNamee, center, and local activist Eugene Langston-Jemison at a protest in front of the Dukes County Courthouse. Lucas Thors
A new act governing Massachusetts police has been signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker. The governor sent the first draft of the act presented to him back to the legislature over disagreements about law enforcement’s use of facial recognition technology, and the oversight of a committee charged with policing the police.
The most significant element of the act is the formation of a special commission to oversee standards for police officers, to be known as the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. It will be an independent state agency that, according to State House News Service, will “establish policing standards, certify law enfo
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Mike Alberice braves the cold after the Freezin’ for a Reason 5K at Long Point Wildlife Refuge. The race benefited veterans and the West Tisbury School Scholarship Fund. Lexi Pline
Gannon and Benjamin opened their doors to guests to celebrate the Vineyard Haven wooden boatbuilder s 40th anniversary. Lexi Pline
Brian Packish, who was Oak Bluffs selectmen chair at the time, read a prepared statement about then-Fire Chief John Rose and the controversy that swirled around him. Lexi Pline
Times staffers got together to bake pies, and this one, from reporter Brian Dowd, was a hit. Lexi Pline
The Martha s Vineyard Times
Edgartown adds three new special officers
Left to right: Dodi Klingensmith, Tyler Moreis, Alaina Socrat are sworn in during a ceremony on Wednesday.
Left to right: Dodi Klingensmith, Alaina Socrat, Tyler Moreis. Courtesy Town of Edgartown
The Edgartown Police Department welcomed three new year-round special police officers Wednesday morning Dodi Klingensmith, Tyler Moreis, and Alaina Socrat.
Klingensmith was previously a Dukes County Corrections officer, and a special officer in Chilmark and West Tisbury. She has received an extensive amount of specialized law enforcement training, and will be attending the Massachusetts Police Training Council’s Full Time Police Officer Academy in January.