In this Sunday Edition, KSL's Scott Haws discusses the problem of domestic violence with Sheriff Jim Winder of the Unified Police Department and Judy Kasten Bell, executive director of the Utah Domestic Violence Council. Also, Linda Hilton from Crossroads Urban Center and Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield discuss a proposal to increase sales tax on food.

Segment 1: Domestic violence

One of the most dangerous calls an officer responds to is domestic violence. Two Utah officers were recently shot while responding to these types of calls.

On February 24th, Peter Coca fired off dozens of rounds at deputies called to his home for a domestic dispute in Elko, Nev. A deputy was hit in the chest, hips and legs.

Two days later in Price, a deputy was shot when responding to a call where a man allegedly beat his estranged wife. Deputy Michael Hreinson was struck by at least one round of shotgun fire.

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The deputies in these cases are lucky; they are both expected to make a full recovery. A call taker with the local domestic violence line said they're seeing an increase in cases.

The year 2010 was particularly deadly for law enforcement. A study from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund found 61 officers were gunned down nationwide in 2010 -- a 24 percent increase from 2009.

Reports of domestic violence have not increased recently, but the problem affects thousands of Utahns. "This last year over 4,000 women, men and children sought safety in domestic violence shelters throughout the state. Those numbers are staying steady -- they're not reducing, but they're not increasing. Those are just the people who actually left their own homes and went into shelter," Judy Casten Bell explains.

Sheriff Jim Winder estimates that as much as half of all calls to 911 in Salt Lake County are related to a domestic situation, but not necessarily domestic violence. "A good portion of our calls are going out to families in crisis and trying to figure out what's going on," he says.

Responding to domestic violence calls is different than other calls to law enforcement. "The key factor is emotion," Winder describes. "There's an old adage that 'no one can make you mad like those you love.' And there's a lot of truth to that. The volatility, the tension, the frustration, the pent-up issues that occur in these make them unlike any other call we go on. They are inherently dangerous. Sometimes they turn deadly."

Winder says sometimes the violence is directed at law enforcement, but it is more common to be directed at the spouse. He says law enforcement does a good job but they could always do better.

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These calls are so complicated, Winder says, there is always more to do. He explains the training for officers: "We try to prepare them for the interaction. We also try and prepare them for the potential for violence, and right now that's probably where we put our emphasis."

SWAT teams are often called in to help in domestic violence situations.

"When someone has made overt efforts to barricade themselves in a residence, we will initiate a SWAT call out. We hope that we can resolve it before SWAT gets there," Winder says. "The purpose for SWAT is not to try an increase the tension, but, quite frankly, we want to have as many options as possible. The SWAT teams options are not just violence. The SWAT teams options are a myriad [of options] -- we have the opportunity to use different listening and looking tools, we have more eyes on the house, negotiators that can go."

Winder says the team is also there to evacuate neighboring homes.

Bell says one of the best things friends and family can do to help someone is to listen and know where to get help.

"One of the things we always look for is someone becoming more isolated than they might normally; not able to visit with family and friends," Bell describes. "And then neighbors, co-workers, family members always can check in; and one of the most important things to do first is to listen, because victims of domestic violence are often not believed. And when someone can listen, and then actually know the community resources to be able to say, 'I know where you might be able to call. I know where you might be able to do some safety planning. Would you be interested in that number?'"

Winder encourages people to leave dangerous relationships and says people have a responsibility to take care of themselves and their children.

"There's a personal responsibility of those individuals that are engaged in these kinds of relationships, Winder says. "What we would hope is that people would recognize the volatile and the dynamic nature of the situation and the impact it is having on the family. For a woman to be caught in this cycle of domestic violence and feel she has not outlet and no opportunities to leave is understandable. But one also has to look at those little eyes peering at this situation and start making some pretty dramatic decisions. We'd say you need to take charge of your own situation. When it has gotten to a particular point, get out."

Segment 2: Food sales tax increase

There are two bills before the Utah State Legislature that would increase the sales tax on food.

Sen. Stuart Adams, R-Layton has sponsored SB270. This bill would raise the sales tax on food while lowering the general sales-tax rate, presumably keeping the amount of revenue the same. The bill passed in the Senate and has moved to the House where it may be combined with other tax proposals.

KSL Editorial:

No Appetite for Hike in Food Tax

Our Legislature is moving forward with a plan to significantly increase the state tax on food, and we are compelled to ask, "What has changed?"

HB282, sponsored by Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield, is similar to SB270, but would also have provided a low-income tax credit and adjusted some local sales taxes. It was held in committee on March 2. McIff explains the bills: "Both bills -- the bill in the House and the bill in the Senate -- contain a corresponding general sales tax reduction to set off an increase in the food tax. It's really a tax shift for the purpose of greater stability, greater simplicity."

"There has never been an intent in this legislative session to increase the tax burden," McIff continues. "The intent has been to consider whether or not the state would benefit by a more stable revenue source, which food is."

Linda Hilton says the proposals hurt the poor.

"We are shifting the tax base; but unfortunately, what we are doing with this bill is shifting the tax burden from the rich to the poor," Hilton explains. "Ninety-three percent of people in Utah will experience a tax increase if this bill goes through. We are talking about raising the rate on sales tax on food more than double. We are only talking about decreasing the rate on overall non-food items less than half of a percent. So if you do the math of how high the food tax will be raised versus how low the other will go, the majority of Utah families, who don't have a lot of disposable income to spend on things like jewelry and cars and furniture, are going to be paying more out of their household budgets."