If you're a frequent reader of this blog, you might have noticed I have a thing or two to say about domestic violence.

I wrote about a seminar in May.

I wrote about how the justice system frequently is part of the problem.

I wrote about how the Supreme Court completely missed the boat on this issue in June.

And, I wrote about the effects of a person who is in a system who is clueless as to what domestic violence is and in fact endorsed the ideas of "Disneyland Dads."

But, despite all these people wandering about making the situation worse, a police chief in my own county has to take the cake for domestic vilence insensitivity. He has hurtled himeslf to the front of the list, ahead of seven justices of the Supreme Court and a lawyer most everyone agrees is clueless.

As discussed in the linked article above, our county sheriff, Bob Bratton, had to file a report with the Carroll Township Trustees about their police chief, Lionel Mason. This was after two major incidents:

Let's start with what happened on September 21. A man by the name of Robert Solly attacked a woman with a ladder -- in fact, the news article says, she was severely beaten.

I would think one could do a lot of damage with a ladder, whether it was a large one or (more likely) a little stepladder. Ouch!

Somehow, this woman got out of Solly's clutches and called the police. Thinking, "OK, a bad thing has just happened to me. The police are there to stop bad things. I'll report the bad thing, and as a result, the person who did this bad thing to me will be punished."

So, she called Chief Mason from a payphone. He met with her, took her to have her injuries photographed, and then sent her on her way.

And did nothing.

He didn't bother to go get a warrant, so when a Carroll Township police officer went to arrest Solly five hours (!) later, when Solly refused to let the officer in, the officer couldn't go in.

The next day, employees at the Ottawa County Municipal Court called Sheriff Bratton, asking for help, and Bratton called Mason, who made what we will call Mason's Miserably Memorable Quote #1:

"My big question is what's all this big deal about a warrant?"

Golly, Chief, I don't know. A warrant is what you get to catch the bad guys. You didn't catch that, like, during your initial training?

Well, by now, the police go back to the house, where the victim is again. (Before we judge too harshly, let's remember she probably had nowhere to go, and probably had the expectation that Solly would, you knw, be arrested?)

Well, she wouldn't let them in because Solly had threatened her after finding out she talked to the police.

(He needn't have. Apparently, it didn't do anything.)

Now, Solly is at large, and the woman has advised that she regretted calling the police and won't do it again.

This is not surprising. All too often, victims of crime feel that the system that should punish those who do bad things to them actually ends up revictimizing them.

But, no, really, the system cares if you've been beaten with a ladder.

Or, if you have a child who needs to be put in protective custody.

That's another strike against Mason.

Last Thusday morning, the Ottawa County Department of Job and Family Services needed to remove a child from a home in Carroll Township (Mason's jurisdiction.) Mason's basic response to the sheriff's office was, "No, I can't go. I'm not going. I've got things to do."

Gee, Chief, do you want to make your department's motto, "To protect and serve, unless we've got things to do."?

The sheriff's office stepped in and did what Chief Mason should have.

But, here's the pithiest thing yet from the article. It also may explain why Chief Mason reacted the way he did.

In a telephone conversation with Bratton, Mason spoke about victim's advocates. Victim's advocates are people who deal with victims of crime and help explain the system and opportunities and outlets available to them.

Here's what Mason thinks of them, as recorded on Sheriff's office tape: "I don't think much of victim's advocates. I think they're nosy witches."

Wow. What a great attitude, eh?

As a matter of fact, victim's advocates are a godsend for prosecutors and victims frequently. They explain the system, mediate between the two, and encourage victims to think in terms of their safety. They bring an experienced and sympathetic ear.

Sometimes, when dealing with a hardened and jaundiced view of the system, they encourage people to do their job.

What do you want to bet that was the context of their dealing with Chief Mason?

I think Carroll Township needs a new police chief.

Not that I like puns, but, failing that, I think this Mason needs to get the third degree. Or else it's time for this Lionel to be retrained.

And the really bad part is, this is where I live. This is what I'm supposed to be proud of.

Of course, it's not surprising, when you have a county where guardians ad litem proudly declare that "Disneyland Dads" are a good thing.

*shakes head sady*