HOME FRONT: Domestic disputes are a growing...

HOME FRONT: Domestic disputes are a growing headache for local police agencies. New figures show that police looked into more than 12,000 domestic violence complaints here last year, up 13% since 1987. But even more disturbing, more than 200 of those calls involved someone armed with a gun, almost double from five years ago. . . . Says sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Dick Olson: “Emotions run high. Every law enforcement officer will tell you it’s a high-risk call.”

Domestic Violence

Police calls to assist in family disputes have increased 13% in Orange County since 1987: ‘87: 10,955 ‘91: 12,386 Source: Bureau of Criminal Statistics, Office of the California Attorney General