What a difference the city has made in 25 years.

Over the last 25 years, the city of Federal Way has made great strides with statewide and local partners, to pass legislation to prevent and assist victims of domestic violence. In the last 25 years, we have been part of a movement to change the attitude of how domestic violence is viewed in our community and beyond.

Along with our visible enforcement efforts and the long-standing mandate to arrest offenders, the Federal Way Police Department participates in other efforts as well. For instance, we are partners with the Federal Way Domestic Violence Task Force, a group that comes together each month to combine our efforts and attack the social problem from all angles (law enforcement, prosecution, court processes, counseling, victim’s advocacy and assistance and more). The task force works to promote domestic violence prevention, victim safety, community awareness and abuser accountability.

Federal Way is leading the way when it comes to punishing offenders who commit domestic violence in front of children. In 2006, the Federal Way City Council adopted two amendments to city code, which made domestic violence in front of children and strangulation a gross misdemeanor. Any person convicted of either crime would have to spend a minimum of 30 days in jail as well as possibly face other conditions imposed by the court.

We have participated in numerous work groups to address domestic violence. For example, we have taken proactive steps to protect teenagers from abuse and to provide prevention education materials in Federal Way Public Schools. In 2006, we hired a full-time domestic violence prosecutor, and in 2015, we transitioned the domestic violence liaison to a victim’s advocate position.

Our police department and the King County Prosecutor’s Office are involved in strangulation eradication programs. We are well aware that when strangulation occurs between household members or intimate partners, there is a much higher risk that a subsequent assault will result in homicide.

Domestic violence has devastating impacts on children. Children growing up in homes where violence exists are abused and neglected at higher rates. They are also the most likely to perpetuate violence in their intimate relationships when they get older. Among other things, household violence is often a learned behavior.

This social problem exists in every community and Federal Way is no exception. In our city, police officers respond to over 2,500 domestic violence calls each year and it is consistently in our top five calls-for-service each month. The crimes of domestic violence often occur behind closed doors, often in the privacy of homes, committed by one household member on another, making it sometimes difficult to deter or detect.

Today, in 2015, there are still women and children who are unsafe, who are terrorized by someone who says they love them. These survivors need communities working in collaboration to help them get safe, and hold perpetrators accountable in meaningful ways that actually stop the violence.

We have accomplished a great deal in 25 years, but there is so much work that still lies ahead for the next 25 years. The Federal Way Police Department is committed to the safety of the victims of domestic violence and dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence that impacts many of our residents.

We will continue to collaborate with government and private human services agencies and advocates to significantly reduce domestic violence in our community. We will also continue to provide comprehensive domestic violence training to all department members to ensure we continue to reflect best practices and enhance service and safety to our citizens.

October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month and our commitment is to continue to take a stand and work together with others to raise awareness in an effort to end domestic violence. Thank you for letting us serve you.

Andy Hwang is chief of the Federal Way Police Department.