The Way I See It!

Cudahy Citizens Police Academy - Week 5 Part 1

Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on May 5, 2010

Cudahy, Domestic Violence, Citizen Police Academy, Police

This week we focused on Domestic Violence (DV), Mental Commitments of Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 51.15 and saw a demonstration of the Cudahy Tactical Unit.

The DV portion is so very important that I am going to make it the first part and the other two sections the next part.

Domestic Violence is a very sad thing and Cudahy has far more than its share of the cases.  I can tell you that alcohol makes the problem worse as Sgt. Blunt stated in many cases it is involved.

In 2008, Cudahy had the 4th amount of DV arrests in Milwaukee County (Not per capital) with 120 DV arrests.

In 2009, Cudahy was 3^rd in the amount of DV arrests in Milwaukee County (Not per capital) with 127 DV arrests.

Cudahy Police respond to more than 400 family trouble/Domestic abuse calls per year.

We had some citizens come in for role-playing as we worked out scenarios on who should be arrested and why.

In the past, the Police Officers responding could issue a municipal citation and just looked at the primary aggressor.  That has changed and today they look for the predominant aggressor, which looks at history, patterns, the extent one party fears another, degrees of injury, witness statements and was it in self-defense.  

The Wisconsin state government takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously, especially since Act 346, the domestic abuse arrest law, was passed in 1987.  The law, which has been modified a few times since then, requires police to receive training in dealing with this complex issue, and maps out certain guidelines for officers to follow when responding to a domestic dispute.

"Domestic violence" is legally defined as one or more of the following offenses, committed by an adult against another adult that he or she lives with, has lived with, or shares a child with:

1. Intentional infliction of pain, illness or injury.

2. Intentional impairment of physical ability.

3. Sexual assault of any degree

4. A physical act that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety.

Police officers are required to arrest the suspected abuser if the following conditions apply:

1. The officers have reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed, and

2. There is evidence of physical injury to the alleged victim, or the officer has reason to believe that continued abuse against the alleged victim is likely.  (For example, documented prior incidents of assault against the victim.)

Unlike many states, Wisconsin does not require the alleged victim to press charges in order for the accused abuser to be arrested.  It is the choice of the officers who arrive at the scene, to be based on the best information available to them.

When a person is charged a domestic violence-related crime, state law requires him or her to observe a "no contact" requirement.  This means that for 72 hours after his or her arrest, he or she must not be in the presence of his or her alleged victim, or contact them through any third party other than law enforcement or attorneys.  If this person is arrested a second time for assaulting their alleged victim during this 72 hour period, their sentence may be increased by up to two years beyond the maximum.

In Wisconsin, a person who is being abused by his or her partner has the option of applying for a domestic abuse restraining order.  Restraining orders vary depending on the needs and wants of the person applying for them.  A restraining order may

1. Order the abuser to stop committing assault against the victim.

2. Order the abuser to avoid the victim's home or temporary residence.

3. Forbid the abuser from contacting the victim directly or through a third party.

4. Order the abuser to give any firearms in their possession to the police.

5. Give other orders, depending on the specific needs of the victim.

Please, if you know someone or you find yourself in a Domestic Violence situation, please seek help.  People that show true LOVE do not have to resort to violence to show it!

I have listed a few websites that can help and contain more information on the subject.

http://www.sojournertruthhouse.org/

http://www.domesticviolence.org/

http://www.ndvh.org/

http://www.helpguide.org/

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm

I feel strongly against Domestic Violence or any physical violence for that matter.  That is not to say I would not defend myself or my family nor is it saying I have not been in my share of bar fights.  I am saying that I think Domestic Violence whether physical, mental or verbal is wrong!

I have never raised my hand to my wife or child and am very troubled by those that do.  I am very bothered by violence of children, that after the third season of Law and Order SVU, I stopped watching after the show started to be come overwhelming violent against children.  I have seen Domestic Violence first hand as a child and would never want to subject anyone to that and feel those that are involved need to get help.  If you know someone, please get them help if they don’t or can’t do it themselves.