Fresno police are forming a dedicated unit to go after domestic violence offenders because domestic violence calls and charges are up.
Domestic violence crimes are up more than thirty percent in 2016 compared to the same time last year.
That is on top of three years of increasing reports of domestic violence in the City of Fresno.
Police Chief Jerry Dyer has formed a domestic violence task force to go after offenders, 83 of which have currently have outstanding arrest warrants.
“We have had two homicides in 2016 as a result of domestic violence. So we know that this is a crime that is near and dear to everyone within our community and every family.” Dyer says.
Dyer says they are on pace to answer 7,000 domestic violence calls but that it is not clear why rates are rising.
The officers being assigned to the task force usually work as school resource officers who are now free because school is on summer break.