FIRMS DONATE CELL PHONES; DEVICES WILL HELP SELECTED PEOPLE THREATENED BY CRIME.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

Victims of domestic and elder abuse, stalking and gang crimes will soon find that no matter where they are help is as close as the push of a cellular button.

The Motorola and AirTouch Cellular companies will donate a combined 30 phones to the Ventura County District Attorney's Victim Services Division for loan to victims in imminent danger, who will carry the phones with them at all times.

``It's an incredibly important tool to protect victims and witnesses who find themselves in an immediate threat of danger,'' said Lela Henke-Dobroth, chief deputy district attorney. ``All too often, victims are in need of immediate assistance and for one reason or another, they don't have a telephone available to them to call for help. They are homeless, or they don't have a phone or they find themselves in a location where they don't have a telephone available to them.''

The phones, with free airtime from AirTouch, are preprogrammed with speed-dial numbers that connect to 911 dispatchers and the District Attorney's Office with the push of a button, according to Cheryl Shaw, spokeswoman for AirTouch Cellular.

The call will go directly to the California Highway Patrol, which is the central hub for 911 calls.

Callers will give a special code, known only by them, the District Attorney's Office and the dispatcher, who will then ask the relevant questions, such as the location of the victim, before requesting a response from the nearest law enforcement agency.

``They are specially programmed to dial only 911,'' Henke-Dobroth said. ``They can't place any personal telephone calls from the phone, and they can't receive any calls.''

She said the victims will be allowed to keep the phones until authorities are confident the victims are safe - most likely because the perpetrator is in jail, has moved away or is rehabilitated.

For two years, the county has operated a program where about 400 cellular phones are distributed to disabled individuals for use when they are stranded with no access to a regular phone, said Supervisor Frank Schillo.

Between 2 million and 4 million women are assaulted by their partners each year, according to the American Medical Association.

Regionally, the District Attorney's Office assisted 7,527 victims of domestic violence countywide in 1997, according to Debbie O'Neill, director of the victim services division.

``We know the cellular phones cannot solve the domestic violence problem,'' Shaw said. ``But we hope by providing the phones and access to emergency services, we can make the victims feel a lot safer. Whether it's reporting a crime or accident or providing basic communications in times of disaster or emergency, a cellular can improve personal and community safety.''