SE Vegas News

Clark County recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month by making the Las Vegas welcome sign lights purple on Oct. 5.

County commissioners were joined by representatives from SafeNest, UNSHAKEABLE, and St. Jude's Ranch for Children as they raised awareness of the widespread issue of domestic violence, according to a news release from the county. 

The recognition came days before Truong Thai, an officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was shot while responding to a domestic violence incident east of the Las Vegas Strip. Thai died at a local hospital from his injuries, a Facebook post from Clark County officials noted.

"For many of us, home is a place of love, warmth, and comfort," Jim Gibson, chairman of the Clark County Commission, said in the news release. "But, for too many others in our community and across the world, home is anything but a sanctuary. Domestic violence affects millions of people, but by bringing attention to this issue we can show the victims and survivors that we stand with them and are here to help."

SafeNest sheltered over 20,000 people since its establishment in 1977, according to the news release. The nonprofit agency's staff members answered more than 500,000 hotline calls in that time period in an effort to domestic and sexual violence in Clark County. SafeNest offers programs for counseling, advocacy, court support, and education about the prevention of domestic violence.

UNSHAKEABLE provides services to women in recovery from domestic violence, homelessness, substance addiction, and human trafficking, the news release noted. Its staff partners with other nonprofit organizations to provide housing and therapy and support their clients' return to work. St. Jude's Ranch for Children offers therapy and a safe, nurturing home to abused and neglected children in Nevada.

"Domestic violence can affect anyone regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, or economic status," Justin Jones, a Clark County commissioner, said in the news release. "It is important that we raise awareness of this terrible crime and come together to support community organizations and groups such as SafeNest that provide victims of domestic violence with the support and resources they need to remove themselves from abusive situations."