Discuss the components of the International Association of Chiefs of Police model policy regarding officer involved domestic violence (OIDV).

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Officer-involved domestic violence (OIDV) is a national problem, with police officer families having higher rates of domestic violence than non-police officer families. The purpose of a uniform policy is to establish procedures that delineate responsibility for implementing domestic violence prevention strategies in the law enforcement community, and for handling matters of domestic violence and abuse involving law enforcement officers. A proper policy stresses the importance of addressing the safety needs of the victim, while holding the perpetrator accountable for his or her actions. It also addresses the importance of training. The IACP policy makes it clear that the department will adhere to a zero-tolerance policy toward police officer domestic violence. Pre-hire screening and investigation are also critical. Supervisors should use an early warning and intervention system to document any pattern of abusive behavior potentially indicative of domestic violence. Incident response protocol dictates that a supervisor of higher rank shall always report to the scene of all domestic violence incidents involving a police officer, regardless of the involved officer's jurisdiction. Lastly, the department's Internal Affairs Unit shall conduct separate parallel administrative investigations of alleged incidents of police officer domestic violence in a manner that maintains the integrity of both investigations and promotes zero tolerance. Regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, the department shall uphold all administrative decisions.