Domestics and Disputes —It’s Everybody’s Hurt…
By Chief Fred Maas

Almost everyday, almost every shift, we get at least one. Sometimes its several a day, several a shift. It is truly one of the most delicate, disliked, and time consuming calls that police officers handle. Not to mention the worst officer safety problems of any call. It is the call for assistance
on Domestic Violence and/or Domestic Disputes.

Many years ago, this call for police service was responded to but little or nothing was ever done. Couldn’t be done. The laws stated it was a civil matter not criminal and therefore police just played peacemaker and tried to get someone, one of the parties, to LEAVE. Oftentimes they did, only to return later or the next day, to start up allover again. Many felt it was truly a waste of police officer’s time and taxpayers money. Not so anymore!

The laws and procedures on Domestic Violence have changed drastically over recent years. There are even watchdog groups that monitor cases and calls to insure that those laws are being followed and enforced. In almost ALL cases that involve some type of physical contact, abuse, or combativeness, an arrest is made. It must be made. And now, the officer(s) begin a lengthy process of interviews, paperwork, processing, charges and transportation to the downtown county jail. Basically, the city has just lost for the remainder of their shift, at least one and sometimes several officers. It’s not a complaint, its JUST A FACT!

Unfortunately, if we have the misfortune of getting more than one call, either simultaneously or during that shift, it can consume and occupy your entire squad of patrol officers, leaving no one for visibility, patrol or to handle other calls for service. However, never worry as to Emergency Coverage as police departments provide mutual aid with each other which insures police response to emergencies no matter.

I’m going to provide an example for case in point:

Afternoon shift is from 2:30-10:30 PM. The squad coming on has a supervisor and four officers going out on patrol. It is clearly the busiest shift of all. People are driving home from work; children are coming home from school; everyone is rushing to get themselves or their kids to their next event.

• A call goes out of an accident, let’s say on Collins. Nothing major but a officer has to respond and fill out a report. He is out of service.
• Someone comes home to their condo or apartment and after having a bad day at work engages in an argument with their spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend. It gets heated, it gets physical, one pushes the other, strikes the other and an injury results. The children are there also, watching in horror. The police are called, usually by the injured party or a neighbor who hears the fighting. Two officers MUST respond for officer safety. More, if it is known that several subjects or persons are involved or if weapons (guns/knives) are involved. Now the supervisor must also respond to insure BY-LAW, that the call is handled properly. Now the lengthy process begins and unfortunately, an ARREST has to be made against the aggressor. It will take hours to handle this call and even longer for the officer who must transport the arrestee down to County Jail.

During this time period, someone else tries to shoplift merchandise at the local supermarket. It is very common. The store calls, the officer responds, they have to handle it. Reports, an arrest, a transport to jail. This officer is now out of service and our hope is that the officer handling the accident is ready to finish and clear for the next call. Or at least be ready to clear and handle an emergency call if one arises. It does!

A child is playing at one of the City parks and falls and injures themself. Possibly a concussion and a broken arm. Police and Fire Rescue are summoned immediately. The parent and other children are hysterical upon arrival and add to the chaos. The officer just left handling an accident and now will handle this emergency.
There are now NO police units in service. Mr. Taylor comes home after a long day and receives a message from his bank that someone has stolen his identity and fraudulently been making purchases in his name. Mr. Taylor is instructed to call his police department to file a report. He does! He asks how long before they’ll be there? The dispatcher tells him as soon as she can clear an officer from the calls they are on currently or when they get finish that Domestic Violence call that is taking hours to handle. Mr. Taylor’s call is important to him. He wants someone soon, someone now, because he is upset!

Not only do we understand as a police department, but we sympathize as well. When people have problems or emergencies, they call the police and want them rapidly. Response time is Very Important.

This City Commission has always granted the requests for additional manpower when it comes to police services. It is not easy to provide a full staff, always, all days. Officers get sick and miss work, officers get injured during physical combative arrests or breaking up fights, officers go out on maternity leave as they have families also, and officers occasionally get called up for military duty if they are in the reserves. Officers must attend mandatory training. All these factor into taking away from the ideal situation where everyone comes to work, everyday to handle calls for the public.

But because the City Commission your City Commission is concerned and dedicated to your safety and the reputation of safety for this City, they realize that a constantly growing population and new developments mean more calls for service; more traffic; more disputes, more problems AND unfortunately MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC DISPUTES.

Every time a new building goes up and hundreds of new families move in, calls for police and fire and fire-rescue services will increase. The Commission agrees that it is not good to have to wait for those services when you need them. At our agency, we DO NOT hold calls, especially important or critical calls or emergency calls.
But remember, in order to continue to be there for you, we need your support also. And the City Commission needs your support and backing when they have to determine how many more is necessary to keep up.

We don’t want to just handle calls, we want to be VISIBLE throughout the City to promote safety to ALL…
A study is underway to analyze and record calls for service as to number, type, time, location and results. Those statistics will be presented to you in a future article. It is our goal to keep you informed in all areas, at all times.

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