SOUTHINGTON -- In the wake of Saturday's apparent murder-suicide, Police and a domestic violence expert are urging members of the public to take action and seek help if they are the victim of violence or suspect that it is happening to a friend or neighbor.
Police Sgt. Lowell DePalma said police would always prefer a call, from someone in the house or a neighbor or friend, before a situation escalates so they can intervene.
"For police to intervene on a verbal argument where there's no physical violence (they) can come in, help the situation calm down, cool down -- there may be no arrest," he said Monday. "Maybe that intervention is enough to prevent a domestic violence incident.
"Let alone if you do have a domestic violence incident call us, because literally it could be life-saving," he said.
The deaths Saturday of Saudina Mehovic and her ex-husband Nurija Mehovic come on the heels of another murder-suicide involving a former married couple Wednesday in Wallingford.
Karen Jarmoc, interim executive director of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said she has directed her staff to examine both cases to see if there were gaps in the system or things that could have been done better.
Mehovic, for instance, had a restraining order against her husband but it expired after their divorce was finalized in July 2010, court records show.
"It was a very bad week in Connecticut for victims of domestic violence," Jarmoc said before issuing a plea.
"The overlying message is that support and services and crisis intervention and immediate help is always available to victims," she said. "No one should hesitate to call. It gives them the information and the power and ability to be safe."
The coalition's hotline is 888-774-2900. Southington Police can be reached at (860) 621-0101 or by calling 9-1-1.
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