Normal Police Det. Brian Larimore addressed the media during "It's Time to Talk" day Tuesday. (Photo By Paul Morello/WJBC)

By Paul Morello

BLOOMINGTON - Local organizations are pledging to take time to talk about domestic violence Tuesday.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence is hosting "It's Time to Talk Day" throughout Central Illinois.

The event is aimed at facilitating open conversations about the impact of domestic abuse, how to know the symptoms of abuse, and how to help victims of domestic violence.

Normal Police Department detective Brian Larimore said there are about 900 reports of domestic violence in Normal alone per year.

"Anyone that works in any sized workplace, encounters people on a daily basis that could potentially be going through some domestic violence issues. This conference today is here to help bring light to that," he said.

Officials said there are 1,600-1,800 reports of domestic violence between Bloomington and McLean County per year.

"Victims need to know that the support is there," incoming McLean County state's attorney Jason Chambers said. "They need to feel that support behind them. I'm looking forward to being a part of that."

Tonya Bassett, with the Family Violence Coordinating Council, said there are a number of different symptoms of abuse.

"There could be a lot of intense fear. We also look at some of the symptoms as the inability to sleep, the inability to trust or to communicate openly," she said.

Officials said 21 percent of full-time employed adults polled in 2005 identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence and 44 percent of adults surveyed personally experienced the effect of domestic violence in their workplace.

Dozens of community organizations, including Radio Bloomington, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, State Farm and COUNTRY Financial are involved in "It's Time to Talk Day."

Paul Morello can be reached at paul@wjbc.com.