DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY POLICE OFFICERS Model Policy July 2003 PURPOSE This policy recognizes that the profession of law enforcement is not immune from members committing domestic violence against intimate partners. The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for handling acts of domestic violence committed by police officers and for implementing prevention strategies. This policy will provide police executives, officers, and all department employees guidance in addressing incidents where one (or more) party to a reported domestic violence incident is an employee, whether sworn or civilian, of any rank in the department. POLICY This policy offers a comprehensive, pro-active approach to domestic violence by police department employees with an emphasis on victim safety. It delineates a position of zero tolerance by the department. It is imperative to the integrity of the profession of policing and the sense of trust communities have in their local law enforcement agencies that leaders, through the adoption of clear policies, make a definitive statement that domestic violence will not be tolerated. In the process of implementing this policy, the department should review the records of all employees to determine whether convictions for qualifying misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence *(MCDV) or valid protection orders exist. If an employee is found to have a MCDV or is the subject of a qualifying protection order, department legal counsel and/or city/county attorney shall be consulted immediately regarding continued employment or duty assignment. Federal law prohibits police officers convicted of qualifying misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing firearms. Officers found guilty of a qualifying domestic violence crime through criminal proceedings shall be terminated. DEFINITIONS "Domestic violence" refers to an act or pattern of violence perpetrated by a police officer upon his or her intimate partner not done in defense of self or others, including but not limited to the following: Bodily injury or threat of imminent bodily injury Sexual battery Physical restraint Property crime directed at the victim Stalking Violation of a court order of protection or similar injunction Death threats or death An partner” of a police officer is any person who meets one or more of the “intimate following criteria: Is or was legally married to the police officer
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY POLICE OFFICERS Model Policy July 2003 PURPOSE This policy recognizes that the profession of law enforcement is not immune from members committing domestic violence against intimate partners. The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for handling acts of domestic violence committed by police officers and for implementing prevention strategies. This policy will provide police executives, officers, and all department employees guidance in addressing incidents where one (or more) party to a reported domestic violence incident is an employee, whether sworn or civilian, of any rank in the department. POLICY This policy offers a comprehensive, pro-active approach to domestic violence by police department employees with an emphasis on victim safety. It delineates a position of zero tolerance by the department. It is imperative to the integrity of the profession of policing and the sense of trust communities have in their local law enforcement agencies that leaders, through the adoption of clear policies, make a definitive statement that domestic violence will not be tolerated. In the process of implementing this policy, the department should review the records of all employees to determine whether convictions for qualifying misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence *(MCDV) or valid protection orders exist. If an employee is found to have a MCDV or is the subject of a qualifying protection order, department legal counsel and/or city/county attorney shall be consulted immediately regarding continued employment or duty assignment. Federal law prohibits police officers convicted of qualifying misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing firearms. Officers found guilty of a qualifying domestic violence crime through criminal proceedings shall be terminated. DEFINITIONS "Domestic violence" refers to an act or pattern of violence perpetrated by a police officer upon his or her intimate partner not done in defense of self or others, including but not limited to the following: Bodily injury or threat of imminent bodily injury Sexual battery Physical restraint Property crime directed at the victim Stalking Violation of a court order of protection or similar injunction Death threats or death An “intimate partner” of a police officer is any person who meets one or more of the following criteria: Is or was legally married to the police officer
DomesticViolencebyPolicePolicy.docx