Reno Police say they're responding to more domestic violence calls and people accidentally discharging their firearms.
Chief Kathryn Nance says last year half of the homicides were domestic violence related. And of the three homicides this year, two of them were domestic violence related.
Police are asking people if you see something say something.
Nance says, "My biggest takeaway from the recent incidents is that people in their lives knew that they were in danger and that's a very hard position for anybody to be in, but we want to make sure everybody knows what resources are out there."
She tells us it takes the entire community to help victims get out of a dangerous relationship.
Brie Burgess, Reno Police's Victim Services Unit supervisor, says on average they help 25 hundred to three thousand victims a year. They provide immediate resources when police respond to a call.
Bertges says, "Our team of advocates develop a safety plan with victims and their families, safety plans including enhancing their safety at work, at home, around technology, emotional and psychological safety."
Chief Nance says you should document your abuse if you're not ready to report it yet, "Keep records of incidents, photos of your injuries, save any threatening texts or voicemails."
If you or someone you know may be a victim in a domestic violence relationship you can call the 24/7 hotline at 800-799-7233.
Nance is also reminding everyone of gun safety due to the number of people she says are not properly caring for them.
"Making sure that your firearm is completely unloaded before cleaning, it's the most common place for an accidental discharge or people that are playing with firearms which is never safe."
If you're new to guns, Nance recommends you take a training course at a local range or with a certified training instructor.
Always keep your firearms in a safe with a trigger lock. And never point your guns in the direction of someone or yourself.
Reno Police wants to remind everyone that they offer free trigger locks to anyone who may need one for their firearms as well.
