October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. hosted a free community event focused on education, prevention, and connecting survivors with essential resources. The event, held on October 15, 2025, at the Ozone Park Jewish Center, brought together community members, advocates, and local leaders to look at prevention strategies and available support.

“Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that touches individuals and families in every neighborhood,” Addabbo said. “This month, we come together to break the silence, share vital resources, and remind survivors that they are not alone.”

The program was presented with the assistance of the Ozone Tudor Civic Association. Attendees heard from guest speakers representing Safe Horizon and the NYPD Domestic Violence Unit, who led discussions and answered questions focused on prevention and survivor support. Community members were encouraged to participate in this essential conversation.

Officers Justin Thompson and Thomas Ruppel of the 106th Precinct Domestic Violence Unit spoke about how domestic violence can start as verbal disputes and escalate to physical violence. They emphasized the importance of calling the police when someone feels in danger. The 106th Precinct serves a diverse, largely residential community and handles many domestic violence-related calls, the officers said. They stressed proactive engagement to prevent escalation and protect victims.

“We want to intervene before things escalate to a point where someone’s safety is jeopardized,” said Officer Ruppel. “We follow up on verbal disputes and violations such as harassment, even if there are no injuries.”

Thompson noted that harassment can be documented even without arrests, so a victim can use a domestic incident report to pursue protective orders in family court.  Limited protection orders: allow contact in some cases, potentially within the same household, but prohibit crimes against the protected person. Full stay-away orders: prohibit all contact, including contact through third parties.

In some cases, assaults can be charged as misdemeanor assault, potentially elevating to felony criminal contempt if a protective order exists and is violated.

An audience member asked whether neighbors should call the police if they hear concerning behavior. Officers encouraged vigilant reporting. Officer Ruppel recounted a case where a neighbor’s call helped rescue a woman who was bound and gagged in a bathroom. She had no means to contact authorities herself, and the timely call allowed officers to enter legally and intervene.

The senator also recognized Ms. Elizabeth DeJesus, a domestic violence survivor and Founder of Cottontail Corner in Richmond Hill, which provides programs for children and assists domestic violence survivors and their families. 

Carolina Sanchez, Safe Horizon Queens Manager of the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP), and Rayon Chan, Safe Horizon Victim Advocate at the 106th Precinct, discussed free resources for domestic violence victims, including information about victims’ rights, home visits to follow up on verbal disputes, confidentiality guarantees, counseling and temporary shelter, referrals to community organizations like Rising Ground.

Victims of domestic violence can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text BEGIN 88788. Safe Horizon operates the NYC Hotline, a 24/7, 365 day a year number for anyone who has experienced domestic or intimate partner violence, crime, abuse, or sexual assault at 800-621-4673 (HOPE).