County Attorney Lando Voyles, who is pictured on the billboards alongside Sheriff Paul Babeu, said he believed strangulation cases were going unnoticed and, in response, provided training for law-enforcement officers on detecting signs of strangulation. Also featured on the billboards is the image of a woman with bloodshot eyes and bruises.
Officers are trained to notice signs, including changes in the potential victim’s voice, difficulty swallowing and bruising behind the ears, the statement said.
The County Attorney’s Office said there has been an increase in reported strangulation cases over the year due to the officers’ ability to recognize signs.