Breaking Free: Towing Domestic Violence

HOUSTON – Tow truck drivers usually have a bad reputation for one reason or another.

But here in the Houston area, some really do change people’s lives.

Tow drivers across the bay help several casualties a month as they “Break free‘ about domestic violence.

This is mainly because emergency crews are often the first to see the victim if they need help.

More often than not, rapists use vehicles as a form of control, disabling them to keep victims in abusive relationships.

That’s why a simple bag with the essentials means so much to a person in trouble.

“Often they are selected because they are in immediate danger. They don’t have time to grab hairspray, toothpaste, or deodorant. We provide it right here,” says On-Site Towing President Mark Denson.

His crews see everything: criminals dismantle cars, cut tires or simply steal keys.

“Seeing this, having these bags to deploy, it’s all age groups. These are old people, these are men, these are women, these are children. No one is immune from this,” he adds.

Harris County 1st Precinct Constable Alain Rosen says the partnership is a blessing.

His office teamed up with the pest community and Help for victims of domestic violence or AVDA to create bags filled with useful items like food and hotel vouchers.

“Having tow drivers interacting with the public all the time and often in some very dangerous situations where you have victims of domestic violence in car accidents or at the scene where law enforcement is already present to be able to give them a bag of resources , which can help them change their lives to get rid of domestic violence – that’s what it is, ”says Constable Rosen.

Denson adds: “People are calling us. We had people sending texts. I had an email that said, “Hey, could you leave it at my neighbor’s house? Because I can’t have it at home.” and we did just that.”

Sometimes crews distract attention.

“We can call our pest friends, our pest community, to go out there and get this person out of the domestic violence situation,” the constable says. “So, they’re willing to do this for free, and that means your money is where you say it is.”

“We supply them simply with information. – Hey, you’re safe. You know we can call law enforcement here if you need someone. If you’re in direct danger, you know, we can, we can protect it a little for you. We don’t put ourselves in that position, but I can put you in my truck and get you out of here. If we need it right now,” Denson tells us. “We care. There are people who want to help you, don’t be afraid to ask.”

Every driver in the Tow-A-Way Domestic Violence Program has a purple tow truck ribbon with the Constable PCT 1 logo on their trucks.

The popularity of the program is growing, and emergency response teams from across the country are calling Houston crews to launch the program in their cities.