SPOUSE-ABUSE FIGHTERS FACE MORE UNCERTAINTY.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Los Angeles County supervisors delayed action Tuesday on a proposal to continue funding for a Sheriff's Department's domestic-violence unit facing disbandment.

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich's motion, which is now scheduled to be heard next week, would provide an unspecified amount of funding to keep two deputies in the Antelope Valley and nine others and a sergeant elsewhere in Los Angeles County in the program, Safety Through Our Perseverance.

``Without all these specialized deputies who are versed in how to deal with a domestic-violence victim, you're going to be faced with a victim who doesn't want to leave the situation,'' said Antonovich aide Jean Huston-Walker. ``If you can get these specialized deputies in there, they empower the victim. In the end, this is something that is going to save the department time and money.''

The Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council credited the local STOP detectives with reducing repeat offenses by spouse abusers and with reducing the number of victims who recant their accusations. The Antelope Valley unit started in 1998 and handles more than 700 spouse-abuse cases a year.

The STOP deputies work with Domestic Violence Council personnel to help victims and refer them to places they can find shelter.

The program is funded through a grant to the Domestic Violence Council and the Sheriff's Department. The department grant has run out and will force the reassignment of the deputies in January unless other funding can be found.

During supervisors' meeting Tuesday, Antonovich was the only board member who voted to go ahead with the approval process for the motion. The motion did not spell out how much money would be necessary, but called for taking it from a contingencies fund.

``This is something that is our core mission for the Sheriff's Department,'' Huston-Walker said.

If the continued funding is not approved, the team will be disbanded Jan. 2, officials said.