As the head of Dowagiac police, Director of Public Safety Steven Grinnewald witnesses the effects that domestic abuse has on families on a near daily basis.

While officers try their best to provide whatever comfort and support they can to victims of these cases, at the end of the day, law enforcement is still mainly focused on investigating, apprehending and trying the offender, Grinnewald said. While these actions provide protection and justice to the people afflicted by these crimes, they often don’t provide the counseling or healing needed for them to move on with their lives.

“This is the most traumatic and devastating incident in their lives, and there needs to be someone there to help with walk them on the road to recovery,” Grinnewald said.

That’s where the men and women with Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services step-in, providing safe shelter, counseling and other vital services to victims.

The Three-Rivers based support organization has recently launched this year’s initiative to engage men throughout Cass and St. Joseph counties, asking them to take a stand against sexual and domestic abuse occurring in their communities. Called the 100 Men Campaign, DASAS members are seeking donations of $100 or from local men, with the goal of reaching 100 or more donations by year’s end, Grinnewald said.

The police chief has served as member of the DASAS board for the past year. A supporter of last year’s 100 Men Campaign, Grinnewald said he joined the organization’s leadership due to his position in the community, hoping to provide expertise from his years in law enforcement, he said.

Though the victims of domestic abuse are predominantly women, Grinnewald and other DASAS members are hoping that this campaign will give men a method of publically joining the fight against these crimes.

“As men, we’re not going to step aside and say ‘that ok, this issue doesn’t effect me,’” Grinnewald said. “It’s not acceptable in our community or our society.”

Last year, 38 men from the dual-county area contributed to the campaign, a number the organization is looking to top this year, Grinnewald said

“[The board members] are getting the word out, to try and use our influence to make this campaign as big as we can,” he said.

Donors to the campaign will be recognized on DASAS flyers, in their annual report, on their Facebook page, website, in press release and at DASAS events, unless they choose to remain anonymous.

To contribute to campaign, interested donors are encouraged to contact the DASAS offices at 800-828-2023.

“We need to send a message that domestic abuse can’t continue to go on,” Grinnewald said. “We need do everything we can to stop it.”