HOULTON, Maine — In the aftermath of a community shaken by the town manager’s September arrest on domestic violence assault and felony victim tampering charges, Houlton’s police chief made it clear during a Monday night vigil that domestic violence is unacceptable.
Houlton Chief of Police Tim DeLuca, the guest speaker at a Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians domestic violence vigil, said the department takes domestic violence and sexual assault crimes seriously.
“Public education and victim support is critical and crucial in the fight against these crimes,” DeLuca said. “Domestic violence is often an ongoing issue in the home, with victims feeling trapped, often [with] a feeling of helplessness and lack of support.”
DeLuca’s vigil remarks came within hours of the Houlton Patrolmen and Dispatchers Collective Bargaining Unit declaring their unanimous loss of confidence in municipal officials after the council kept Town Manager Cameron Clark on the job after his recent arrest.
“We are shocked at the town council’s response to the town manager’s arrest,” the bargaining unit said in a letter delivered Tuesday to the council. “We believe it is our duty to the people of Houlton to express that we cannot endorse or condone the Council’s response to this very serious matter.”
DeLuca is not a member of the police union.
As community outrage grows and two town councilors have stepped down from their council seats citing moral and ethical concerns, the council has maintained that Clark’s criminal charges have no bearing on his ability to do his job, a stance that has outraged residents.
Additionally, the four remaining council members’ silence has also riled a community searching for answers. And some are taking matters into their own hands, including a group of eight residents who formed a petitioners committee. On Monday, the committee took action by starting a process that could allow the community to oust elected officials.
DeLuca said during the vigil that in Maine domestic violence continues to be a serious issue and Houlton is no exception.
“Unfortunately due to its secretive nature, domestic violence remains unrecognized and untreated across this nation,” he said.
According to DeLuca, this violence not only affects victims directly, it also has serious repercussions for families and communities. Victims may struggle to maintain employment or housing, children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to have behavioral problems and communities with high rates of sexual abuse often experience higher than average levels of crime, he said.
During the vigil, Cathy St. John, the program director of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Advocacy Center named the three Mainers murdered by a partner or family member since last years’ vigil.
The 75 or so people attending each lit a candle in remembrance of someone killed by violence.
According to DeLuca, legislators have recognized the need for more effective laws and harsher punishments, tasking law enforcement and the courts with additional responsibilities and training.
Laws such as mandatory arrest, even with a silent victim, providing awareness of area resources such as the Maliseet Advocacy Center, mandatory follow-up with domestic violence victims within 48 hours after an incident or arrest, mandatory victim notification when the offender posts bail and strict conditions of release have helped, DeLuca said.
“We must make it known that help at home is here,” he said. “We as leaders and advocates, by the nature of our authority, have the power to lead change, educate, support, assist victims and hold offenders accountable. We must lead by example.”
