Verizon Donates $10,000 To Merryman House

Chief Brandon Barnhill of the Paducah Police Department today joined with the local Verizon Wireless store in presenting a $10,000 grant to the Merryman House domestic violence crisis center.

"Domestic violence is Verizon’s primary charitable focus," said Wayne Bolton, manager of Verizon Wireless.  “We are committed to helping the nearly one in four women, one in seven men and more than three million children in the United States affected by domestic violence."

The Holiday Hopeline Drive was launched by the Paducah Police Department in November 2013. The drive challenged people to turn in their no-longer-used cellular telephones, accessories and chargers. The community responded with nearly 700 phones and accessories.

Verizon will turn the donated devices into support tools for residents in an eight-county area who are facing domestic violence.

Barnhill said the department was very pleased with the response, which exceeded expectations.

"The Paducah Police Department remains committed to the fight against domestic violence," said Barnhill. "The department is one of only two in the state that requires its officers to complete a lethality assessment when responding to domestic violence calls. The assessment determines the level of lethal risk faced by the victim of domestic violence."

Additionally, Barns said, "the Paducah Police Department is the only department in the state to re-contact victims of domestic violence within 48 hours to determine if further action is required."