The Puerto Vallarta/Highland Park Sister Cities Committee organized the seminars, which took place at the Puerto Vallarta Police Academy and the Law School at the University of Guadalajara in Puerto Vallarta.
Retired Cook County Judge David Delgado, police officer Rafael Guerrero, and attorney Richard Wolfe, who is also the Vice President of the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation, led the discussions.
The audiences consisted of approximately 200 Puerto Vallarta police officers and police cadets and 100 law students at the University of Guadalajara in Puerto Vallarta. The lecturers were interviewed on Jalisco Radio prior to the seminars.
Domestic violence was chosen as the topic of discussion as it is of major concern worldwide. The goal of the discussions was to bring this important topic out of the shadows and into the light and to discuss ways in which we can combat the cycle of abuse. Education and awareness are the first steps. Police officers and those who work in the legal system play an important role in the process of prevention.
Among the range of topics discussed were: domestic violence and family life, application of Orders of Protection, gender and masculinity, the fine line between discipline and domestic violence concerning children and adolescents in the home, and the role of the police as first responders.
At the end of the sessions, each police officer received a certificate confirming their attendance at the seminar.
Highland Park has three sister cities: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Modena, Italy; and Yerucham, Israel. For more information contact: Carol Wolfe, [email protected]
