Stalking Awareness Month: 40 PFS orders filed in Ellis Co. in 2016

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

In 2016, 40 Protection From Stalking (PFS) orders were filed in Ellis County according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).

The KBI reports 32 PFS orders were filed in 2015 in Ellis County and 36 in 2014.

Options Community Service Coordinator Ashley Hecker (center) with Hays Vice-Mayor James Meier, Mayor Shaun Musil, and City Commissioners Sandy Jacobs and Lance Jones

Hays Mayor Shaun Musil read a proclamation last week recognizing January as National Stalking Awareness Month, alongside Ashley Hecker, community service coordinator for Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services. Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin was in the audience for the declaration.

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

According to statistics provided by Options, in one of five cases, stalkers use weapons to harm or threaten victims, and stalking is one of the significant risk factors for femicide (homicide of women) in abusive relationships.

Modern technology including cell phones, GPS, cameras, and computer spyware, is also used by stalkers to monitor and track their victims.

Victims suffer anxiety, social dysfunction and severe depression at much higher rates than the
general population, and many lose time from work or have to move as a result of their victimization.

Based in Hays, Options serves 18 counties in northwest Kansas. The non-profit organization is working with communities to better combat stalking by raising awareness of the problem, and encouraging communities to adopt multidisciplinary responses by teams of local agencies and organizations, and to provide comprehensive victim services.

Hecker is scheduled to participate in similar proclamations with officials in Stockton Jan. 8, in Phillips County Jan. 9, and Jan. 31 in St. Francis.

If you or someone you know is a victim of stalking, help is available. Call the Options 24-hour helpline at (800) 794-4624 and speak to a trained advocate. You do not have to go through this alone.