When police officers commit domestic violence, it harms their family, the public, and the efficiency and effectiveness of police departments.  Domestic violence survivors, who are partnered with police officers, face unique vulnerabilities and challenges. Officers who perpetrate domestic violence are often the same people who are involved in excessive force and altercations with their peers. It is believed that 2 in 5 domestic violence police calls are responded to by police officers who have a history of  domestic violence perpetration.   

In this first podcast in a multi-part series on officer-involved domestic violence (OIDV), Ruth and David have a far ranging conversation with Alex Roslin, an award winning journalist and the author of Police Wife, about: 

• How he first learned about the issue of OIDV from a survivor who was participating in a support group that was one-half partners of gang members and the other half were partners of police officers
• How he began researching OIDV across the world 
• How often police officers, who are known to commit domestic violence remain on the job, responding to domestic violence  survivors’ calls for law enforcement assistance
• The lack of resources for OIDV survivors
• The linkages between OIDV and excessive force used against civilians 
• How OIDV perpetrators use their position, power, training and relationships to engage in coercive control 
• The need for improved policy and statutes to create better transparency, training, and consequences for OIDV perpetration 

Now available! Mapping the Perpetrator’s Pattern: A Practitioner’s Tool for Improving Assessment, Intervention, and Outcomes The web-based Perpetrator Pattern Mapping Tool is a virtual practice tool for improving assessment, intervention, and outcomes through a perpetrator pattern-based approach. The tool allows practitioners to apply the Model’s critical concepts and principles to their current case load in real

Check out David Mandel's new book "Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers: How to transform the way we keep children safe from domestic violence."