Police Partner With 'Safe Futures' After Stabbings, Homicide

STONINGTON, CT — Police Chief Darren Stewart announced Friday that the police department is working with Safe Futures to assist victims of domestic violence.

Safe Futures says its mission is to ensure area communities become places where "violence and abuse are not tolerated, all victims and survivors are able to get the support and resources they need to create a new life for themselves; and where all children and teens feel safe, and learn the skills to establish healthy friendships and dating relationships."

This past year, Stonington Police investigated three domestic violence-related stabbings that included one homicide and one other case that also involved serious injuries, Stewart noted.

The death of Brandia Irvin is the homicide case to which he is referring. Her longtime boyfriend, Carlton T. Henderson Jr. has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of the mother of two sons in Pawactuck in late November of 2019.

Read all about the case here.

Stewart said that police entered into a memorandum of agreement with Safe Futures, which has been working with local law enforcement for years, to not only help victims, but raise awareness and educate the community.

"The Stonington Police Department is excited to once again partner with this valuable community resource to help families that are in need of services," Stewart said. He said in a press release that in addition to the police department, the Safe Futures partnership will include Stonington Human Services Department, and police youth officer, and chaplain program in providing a variety of services. Stewart said it's "anticipated that a Victim’s Advocate to Assist Law Enforcement program will be established in the very near future and will be working together. Further information on phone numbers and office hours will be forthcoming soon.

Stewart said that by "working with SAFE FUTURES and our other community partners, our goal is to have further resources available to victims and also have education and domestic violence prevention opportunities to help inform the public on these services."