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Crime & Safety

"...We Must Do Everything Possible to Protect Them"

Sexual and Domestic abuse training is import for law enforcement.

Before he was sworn in as the new Pasco County Sheriff, I asked Chris Nocco whether Pasco deputies will contine to attend domestic and sexual violence training sessions like the very impressive one I attended with them this week.

"Yes, domestic violence destroys our families and is a vicious cycle," he said in statement.  "It is critical that our deputies are trained in this area not only for the victims but also for deputy safety.  These incidents can become violent encounters for our deputies, and we must do everything possible to protect them."

You know, I want to frame that quote.

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According to Rod Reder, co-founder of the National Institute of Crime Prevention Global Training Program, officers who attend these trainings stand out to him. This was the case with Nocco, who prioritized his administrative duties so that he could attend and complete the domestic violence training provided by Reder at the sheriff’s office.

Reder led Pasco deputies and other police from the county in training  that included techniques in responding to and preventing domestic and sexual abuse.  Reder serves on the Attorney General’s Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.  He has also served on the Florida Governor’s Domestic Violence Task Force. According to a report released January 2011, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement saw a 15.6 percent increase in domestic violence murders in 2009. 

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Stalking was the first topic covered at Reder's presentation. According to training materials, most stalking is by someone that the person has had a relationship with, and it is about power and control.

Safety planning is important.  There are 3 million reports of stalking in the U.S. every year.  The overwhelming number of stalkers are men, and the overwhelming number of victims are women.  When there is no arrest by the police, it sends a message to the stalker that he can do whatever he wants with no consequences.  However, when the police enforce an order of protection, studies show that it does offer protection to the victim. 

When it comes to threats, most victims underestimate the danger they are actually in, or they think the absence of a threat means there is no danger.  Stalking training is critical if you want to reduce fatalities and has overlap throughout domestic and sexual violence training provided by NICP,  Reder  said.

Reder works on opening the eyes of the law enforcement officers he is training to this reality, because they are the ones who have to show up and deal with the suspect and victim on the scene.  A key to a stalking investigation is understanding the stalker’s particular mode of operation.

Since Reder has his own private investigations company, he is all too familiar with how stalkers will try to utilize a P.I.  However, most reputable P.I.s  with a long history in law enforcement would not pursue action that could further a stalking abuser’s crime: 

Reder also spoke about spousal rape. Officers needs to be instructed on how to interview victims.

“Don’t use the R word," he told the officers. "She will clam up.  Instead, ask if he has ever gotten you to do something in the bedroom you were uncomfortable with or did not want to do."

“Pregnant female assault – look here,”  Reder said, pointing to a screen that showed a diagram of a pregnant woman with the arrow indicating the assault was directed at her head rather than her abdominal area. “…called by prosecutors misdemeanor domestic battery if he strikes her head rather than the location of the pregnancy.”  Reder disagrees with this approach by prosecutors, “because the statute says it is a felony – battery on a pregnant female. She’s still pregnant whether she is hit here or there.” 

I agree with Reder wholeheartedly on that. 

He teaches the law enforcement officer what state law. He said internal policies of certain State Attorney Offices may ultimately charge the crime differently.  The state attorney can decide to not pursue a charge against the assailant regardless of law enforcement officers' offering probable cause to arrest that individual.  If the officer makes an arrest for felony battery on a pregnant female, the state attorney could choose to make the criminal charge be for a midemeanor domestic battery if she was kicked or hit by the suspect away from where her pregnancy is located.   

Reder, a former law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, also instructed the gathered police in how to avoid blaming the victim when responding to a crime. At the same time, he empathizes with the daily frustrations encountered by officers who just want the problem solved for the real people they interact with. And who are never just numbers on a page. 

Reder wrapped up the training session with a message about how police agencies should respond when an officer is accused of domestic violence.

His point?  If an officer is served with an injunction, get him off the road and open an investigation.

“Domestic violence is a detriment to officers and military," Reder said. "Prosecutors will let them (abusive officers/ member of law enforcement family) go and withhold conviction. An officer is held to higher standards and doesn’t get to hold a gun to the spouse’s head due to a 'bad day.'” 

 See www.behindthebluewall.blogspot.com for more information.

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