On January 9, 2018, Mayor Lance Munyon proclaimed January as Stalking Awareness Month in the City of Phillipsburg. Jennifer Hecker, Executive Director of Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, along with Richard Hogan, Community Advocate, met with Mayor Munyon to discuss the issues of stalking and domestic abuse.
Stalking is intentional harassment, a pattern of behavior directed at a specific person, causing that person to feel fear and endangerment or endangerment of the person’s immediate family. The variation in stalking behavior ranges from hang-up phone calls to more direct threats toward a victim. The likelihood of injury increases when the stalking behavior escalates over time.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation reports that 17 protection from stalking orders were filed in Phillips County in 2016. This number continues to increase from 16 protection from stalking orders in 2015 and 12 in 2014. The statistics do not represent the true incidence and prevalence of stalking for multiple reasons, including not all victims report the crime to law enforcement; stalking is also a tactic of domestic violence and sexual abuse, so stalking may not be reported as the primary form of abuse and victimization. Many stalkers use technology such as cell phones, global positioning systems (GPS), cameras, and spyware to monitor and track their victims.
Assistance, education, and support are available to the residents of Phillipsburg and Phillips County. Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services is located in Hays, Kansas but they provide services to all of northwest Kansas. If you need help please call the 24-hour Helpline at 800-794-4624 to speak with an Advocate.