Bell Atlantic Mobile Responds to Call From Local Victims of Domestic Violence

Morristown, NJ — On a recent Wednesday afternoon, the Victim's Witness Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office responded to a domestic violence call. The woman had been severely beaten around the face and head by her husband. The man was arrested, bail was set and he was released in a matter of hours. The woman, whose wounds shocked even the most seasoned police officers, was terrified that her abuser, now free, would return.

The prosecutor's office quickly placed a call to Bell Atlantic Mobile requesting a wireless phone, specially programmed to dial 9-1-1. It was delivered the next morning and in the hands of the woman within hours.

Today, Duncan Milloy, executive director-marketing for Bell Atlantic Mobile's New York/New Jersey Metro region, joined victim's advocates to present five more wireless phones to Morris County Prosecutor John B. Dangler for victims of domestic violence.

"This case is a vivid example of the tragedy of domestic violence -- violence that occurs right here in the suburbs of Morris County," Dangler said. "It's also an example of a corporate good deed. We reached out to Bell Atlantic Mobile for help and they responded without hesitation. Having a wireless phone now allows this woman to leave her home and go about her day-to-day life knowing that if her abuser returns, help is just a phone call away."

Milloy said the phone donation is just one of a series made by Bell Atlantic Mobile throughout the region as part of the company's "Wireless At Work" community service program. "The wireless phones donated today are specially programmed to dial 9-1-1 at the touch of one button," he said. "It is our hope that these phones will never have to be used to report an emergency, but if a victim feels threatened, she can rest assured that help will be on the way."

In Morris County there were close to 3,000 cases of domestic violence reported last year Dangler said. "The most dangerous time for a domestic violence victim is after she has left her abuser. These phones will be distributed to victims who are considered to be in serious danger and have orders of protection against their abusers. In a very real sense, they will serve as a lifeline for victims who fear for their lives."

Bell Atlantic Mobile's "Wireless at Work" program uses the company's wireless technology to help individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications. Since its inception in 1995, "Wireless at Work" has allowed Bell Atlantic Mobile to give back to the community by bringing its wireless products and services to various groups in need throughout the company's service area, from Maine to northern Georgia. Over the past two years, the company has donated over 400 wireless phones to aid victims of domestic violence living in the New York/New Jersey area.

Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East, covering 112,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging. Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 5.5 million customers and 7,000 employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. Through its "Wireless at Work…" community relations program, the company uses its technology to help individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications. Bell Atlantic Mobile's parent is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

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