Domestic violence (DV) calls are among the most dangerous calls that law enforcement officers respond to. Due to issues like emotional volatility of the offender and their desperate need to maintain power and control along with the high potential for violence towards both the victim and the responding officer by that offender, lethality risks increase. Also contributing to the high probability of lethality for first responders is firearms possession by offenders who are not afraid to shoot at officers during victim safety and de-escalation processes.
Proactive safety measures such as specialized training, consistent back-up, risk and lethality assessments, knowledge about the offender’s violent history, victim advocacy on-scene as well as the implementation of robust policies are all crucial to prevent officer injury or death.
This half day preconference is designed to provide an opportunity for attendees to hear from experts from across the country, offer space for engagement in meaningful conversation, and highlight the ways that officers and the systems that support them can work to keep law enforcement safe when responding to DV calls.
