Verizon Wireless, a corporate leader in efforts to prevent domestic violence, today presented Glendale Police Chief Ronald L. DePompa with the HopeLine(R) Law Enforcement Partnership Award. The award honors work by public safety organizations to prevent domestic violence, educate communities about the issue and help survivors rebuild their lives.

Along with the award, Verizon Wireless is providing the Glendale Police Foundation with a $2,500 HopeLine grant for victim services and 20 pre-paid HopeLine phones for use by local domestic violence shelters. The foundation will distribute the phones to local shelters so that survivors can make medical appointments, arrange for transportation, talk to their attorneys, schedule job interviews or make any other necessary arrangements as they rebuild their lives free of violence. To help survivors make the transition to a violence-free life, Verizon Wireless also donated 3,000 free minutes of airtime on each of the 20 pre-paid phones.

"The Glendale Police Department exemplifies the true meaning behind this award," said Steve Zipperstein, Verizon Wireless vice president and general counsel. "The men and women who keep Glendale safe demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to public safety and domestic violence prevention."

California Assemblyman and Assistant Majority Leader Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank), Glendale City Council Member Laura Friedman, and Paula Devine from the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women also spoke at the ceremony.

"For years, Glendale has repeatedly shown its commitment to reducing the intrinsic horror of domestic violence," said Assistant Majority Leader Paul Krekorian, who worked as a pro-bono lawyer protecting women against domestic violence prior to his 2006 election to the state Assembly. "Together the Glendale Police Department, the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women and the Glendale YWCA have formed a powerful trio whose efforts have led to safer streets, neighborhoods and homes. I am proud to have worked closely with these organizations to increase public safety throughout California and look forward to building on our relationships to ensure our neighbors can live peacefully."

"Unfortunately, domestic violence is all too common and is seriously underreported. It affects people in all racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic backgrounds," said Congressman Adam Schiff in a statement. "The Glendale Police Department does exceptional work combating domestic violence and providing a safe place for victims to turn. This recognition is well-deserved and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Glendale Police Department for their hard work and dedication in helping to keep our community safe."

Previous recipients of the HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award are:

* The Georgia chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) (2009)
* Sheriff Al Lamberti of the Broward County Sheriff's Office (2009)
* The South Florida chapter of NOBLE (2008)
* New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Warren Riley (2007)
* Three Omaha Police Department officers: Wendi Dye, Christopher McElligott and Richard Raper (2007)
* Worcester, Mass., Police Chief Gary Gemme (2006)
* Former Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist (2005)
* The New Orleans Police Foundation (2005)

Since the HopeLine program was created in 1995, Verizon Wireless has supported the domestic violence prevention and awareness efforts of law enforcement and government agencies in communities nationwide. Verizon Wireless' support includes the donation of wireless phones and service, high-speed wireless Mobile Broadband service and cash grants to prosecutors, detectives and other personnel in local government domestic violence units; sponsoring phone collection drives in cooperation with local sheriff and police departments; and partnering with several states' Attorneys General offices to create campaigns around elder abuse, teen dating and other domestic violence issues.