When the Batterer Carries a Badge
by Jon Tiplady, Lieutenant, Danvers Police
Department (ret.)
In 1829, Sir Robert Peel of the London Metropolitan
Police Department issued a set of principals for police
officers. One of them stated “The ability of the police
to perform their duties is dependent upon public
approval of police existence, actions, behavior and the
ability of the police to secure and maintain public
respect.”
One of the big challenges in building trust in a
community is to maintain the integrity of a police
department when someone from the organization is
involved in a domestic violence incident. We have been
doing training throughout the state in handling cases
where a member of a particular department or an officer
from an outside jurisdiction commits an act of domestic
violence.
The best way to address this is not to hire
someone with a past history of violence or protective
orders. A thorough background check on potential
officers is the most important aspect in keeping abusers
out of policing. Many departments will spend up to 40
hours researching an applicant.
As has been said many times “past incidents of violence
are the greatest predictor of future violence.” Officers
also have to be advised throughout their training and
assignments that domestic violence will not be tolerated
by the organization.
Because police officers are trained to maintain control
of situations, there needs to be a special emphasis on
the safety and protection of a victim. Many victims are
hesitant to report someone from law enforcement in fear
of retaliation from the abuser and their fellow
officers.
In order to counter these fears, departments are now
addressing the issues with family meetings for
employees. When an officer graduates from the academy,
family members are invited to a meeting where domestic
violence and early intervention policies are discussed.
Family member are provided with a single point of
contact in the department for victims to call in
confidence.
Also discussed at these meetings are the myths that the
courts will do nothing because they know the officer,
that the victim will be responsible for the loss of a
job and that there will be retaliation by other
department members
Another component of this proactive model is to inform
families about resources outside the department for
assistance in dealing with an abusive partner. Partners
are given a comprehensive list of community services and
contact information. The Boston Police Department has
been a frontrunner in this strategy.
A policy also has to be put into place so that a victim
can request help from the department without making a
formal report. Family members are also educated about
the limits of confidentiality that can be maintained
when seeking help.
Training is also being done now to have departments
select a risk/danger tool to gauge potential for further
violence by an accused officer. Departments are training
officers to do risk assessment and investigate
strangulation incidents.
Many victims will state that they were “choked” by their
partner. Strangulation is now being looked at as a
precursor to murder and is at the top of the warning
scale. Many police officers have been trained in the now
illegal “choke hold’ that was used for many years with
combative suspects.
Police departments are also being urged to work with
another jurisdiction when an officer from another
department commits domestic violence in their city.
There has to be a clear policy for notifying the on-duty
commander from another department when an incident
occurs. This is accomplished by creating departmental
memorandum of understandings (MOU’s) and making sure
that there is an officer of rank at any incident
involving a person from law enforcement.
Departments now require an officer to immediately report
to an on-duty superior officer if they are served an
order of protection. This is very important because both
departmental and personal weapons have to be turned over
and secured. It also may result in a change of duty
status for the officer. Some small departments do not
have administrative positions for an officer who cannot
carry a weapon.
When the abuser is a high ranking officer or the chief
of police, it is recommended that a person in local
government who has direct control over the chief be
notified immediately. In addition, the local district
attorney’s office should be notified of the incident. |
