Common traits of abusers

[retdetsgt]

And how do you deal with showing up to a domestic when in the rare case the abuser is a fellow officer? Or in the rarer case that it is a superior officer?...or any crime where another law enforcement officer is involved?

It better be treated like any other DV here, at least. A couple of our guys are unemployed along with a cop who hit his girl friend. They tried to cover it up and it all blew up in their faces. There was a time that was tolerated, but that was a long time ago.

In any case involving an officer of superior rank, I call for someone of higher or at minimum, equal rank to the scene. Then it becomes their problem.

[DeltaV]

We have mandatory arrest laws here too, and if a complainant wants to make a sworn statement that the offense occurred, our state attorney's office deems that as enough probable cause for an arrest in the absence of other evidence. Obviously we won't arrest if there is evidence to suggest the complainant is lying, however if it's a typical case of "he said, she said," then someone is probably going to jail. We can take both parties if there are allegations of violence from both sides and we can't determine the primary aggressor. The end result there is the case getting dismissed because the state can't speak with someone who is a defendant on the same case. As to injunction violations, the petitioner of an injunction cannot violate it in Florida. You can have an injunction against someone and invite them over to your house, and the only person who can be arrested is the respondent. It doesn't even void the injunction.

I can understand having mandatory arrests for domestic violence, however I think it goes a bit too far here in some cases. These "he said, she said" cases are all dropped by the state due to lack of evidence or victim cooperation, however we still have to make the arrest.

[retdetsgt]

Being a veteran of pre-mandatory arrests, I can tell you that it has stopped quite a few murders. By both parties.

At one time, we used to get at least one murder a year where the abused wife finally had enough and shot and killed the abuser. Not to mention the ones where the abusive spouse was the killer.

It's kind of a pain to take someone to jail over something minor, but not as bad as leaving a scene that you know will escalate in the future. More than a few times my partner and I asked each other when we thought we'd be coming back to a homicide. You could just see it coming and there was nothing you could do about it.

[pac201]

Sorry if I am asking way to many questions. I took a class on this and it just left way to many unanswered questions.

You should try to get your money back...

Seriously, having to deal with the same people over and over again is no picnic. Officers simply have to take each individual call as if it is the very first one to that situation, take good notes and document the evidence. Excited utterances are a wealth of information when it's time to prosecute. Only the judge is allowed to dismiss charges here, and I think that is wonderful.

[retdetsgt]

Only the judge is allowed to dismiss charges here, and I think that is wonderful.

Technically, people aren't "charged" here until the DA issues a complaint or indictment. The DA is considered the top LE official in the county. They can stop the process at their level. However, once they issue a complaint or get an indictment, only the judge can dismiss it then.

I think I would like your way better.

[kristinjoanne]

Dont get me wrong the class was great and helpful. It just didnt cover every aspect. I believe its going to be left to the patrol class. It was more focused on the crisis aspect i.e mentally ill, suicide and hostage stuff. There was a bit on domestic violence but I think that was lacking because I will get that later down the road in patrol procedure.

I am kinda doing things a little backwards since I am newer than the rest. Most of the others I believe already had classes to cover DV more. lol I just plan on making applications before I am actually done with classes.

Thank you for the information I've read the crisis book but even the book didnt touch so much on the police aspect of the matter. It was more a general type of thing. And as I have been told many times it isnt about book smarts lol

[oscarmitre]

In Australia mandatory arrest laws aren't possible due to the fact that a police officer here has original and not delegated authority. So in essence no-one can order a police officer to make an arrest for anything (specific forms of arrest warrants excepted). But that doesn't mean a police officer can ignore the obvious, again there are laws that deal with failure to act properly.

Notwithstanding that there has been a huge change in the way that DV is dealt with in the forty years I was in the job. I well remember as a young copper being told (a) separate them (b) sympathise with her and threaten him (c) get out of there asap and (d) never talk to anyone in the kitchen.

Now she is just as likely to be a suspect as him. And either is far more likely to hit the can than forty years ago. My state is about to get a huge change in the laws touching on DV and frankly when they come out a lot of people will be wondering "WTF?"

[retdetsgt]

Notwithstanding that there has been a huge change in the way that DV is dealt with in the forty years I was in the job.

You WAS in the job? Did you pull the pin, you old dingo chaser????

[sgtbear111]

Some of the behavior I have seen in abusers. Narcissism, sociopaths, and just plaiin selfish....
Self-centered. Watch for the pronouns "I", "me" and "mine".... Who is the center of their world?

1. Control. The spouse/partner is "property" of the abuser, or treated simply as a "convenience".
2. Perfectionism. The abuser is perfect, no one meets their standards.
3. Blame transference. Beause the abuser is 'perfect', blame must be assigned elsewhere.
4. Jealousy. The big one. Goes back to control and property.
5. Paranoia. Abusers are secretive, they fear exposure.
6. Limited circle of friends. They fear those they cannot control. Abuser selects the friends.
8. Instant and excess sincerity as a tool, switched on or off.
9. Double standards. OK for the abuser to lie, manipulate. The victim is conditioned to depend on the abuser and to lie to perpetuate the situation.

Females can be as nasty as males. The movie "Misery" is extreme, but the control issue is illustrated, and the relative ease females are allowed to lie their way out of their behavior.

my 2 cents

[retdetsgt]

Rep sent Sgtbear! Excellent post.