A suspected victim of domestic violence is safe tonight thanks to a compassionate act on the part of three Douglas police officers who went above and beyond the call of duty.
According to Waycross Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Ian Sansot, Douglas Police Officer Joseph Brackett reached out to him Friday evening inquiring if he knew of any nearby shelters for battered women. Brackett stated he had met with a woman who had contacted the police through 911 requesting assistance for her and her children. The victim told authorities she had spoken to representatives at one shelter in the area, but was told there was no available space.
Unable to come up with an immediate solution, Brackett, along with fellow DPD Officers Keegan Faulkner and Fred Crowder, dug into their own pockets and paid for a room at a local motel to ensure the safety of the woman and children for the night.
“I wish stories like this made the headlines whenever they happened, but no one hears about things like this,” Sansot stated. “The officers don’t advertise their good deeds, but this is the kind of thing I hear about our officers doing on a regular basis.”
Sansot added that, upon learning of the victim’s situation, the motel manager returned the officers’ money, providing a free room for the family.