Under the law it is known as 'Failure to Protect'

This is a critical issue that affects not only the individuals involved but also the very fabric of our society. Officer-involved domestic violence (OIDV) is a complex and sensitive topic that requires our attention and action. 

We entrust police officers with the responsibility of protecting our communities and upholding the law. However, when they violate that trust by perpetrating intimate partner violence inside their relationships, it can have devastating consequences for the victims, their families, and the community at large. 

It's important to acknowledge that officer-involved domestic violence is a serious issue that requires a comprehensive approach. It demands a response beyond simply addressing the individual perpetrator but also examines the systemic and cultural factors that enable or tolerate such behaviour. 

We must understand the vulnerable nature of intimate partner victims and create a culture of accountability, transparency, and support. This includes providing resources and services for victims, ensuring that investigations are thorough and unbiased, and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. 

Moreover, we must recognise that officer-involved domestic violence is not only a criminal justice issue of police misconduct, but also a public health concern. It affects not only the immediate family but also the broader community, perpetuating cycles of violence and trauma. 

Research has shown us that 40% of police work involves responding to domestic violence in the community; this raises the question of whether a police officer who is a perpetrator of DV can respond appropriately to female DV victims when they present to the police asking for help. Or does his unconscious bias influence the police officers choices and desion making? In doing this, he is confronted by his very own abusive behaviours in the home, or maybe he will try to normalise them and convince the women seeking help that it's not abusive or there is nothing that can be done? This is the story told by many women seeking help from Police.

We need to work together to create a society where every individual can feel safe and protected, regardless of their relationship to law enforcement. Let us prioritise accountability, empathy, and support, and work towards a future where officer-involved domestic violence is never tolerated or ignored.

America has already started the process of 'unburying their head in the sand' and begun addressing this issue through research, policies, training and community education. The key element is to grow, learn, adapt, reflect and evolve. We need to continuously learn better practices to save the lives of women and the families of the police force. 

 Domestic Violence in police families looks different, behaves differently and evolves differently. Health professionals need to understand these unique signs of domestic violence

OIDV can take many forms, including:   

Physical abuse: Police are well trained how to evade being charge with physical force

1. Using their training to harm their partner. Using police-trained physical force techniques to discipline or punish. Using their knowledge of police tactics to subdue and control. Police officers are trained to use physical force in their job and understand how to avoid court repercussions. Accidentally running the victim into a door or wall. They are trained master manipulators of the system, who know how to abuse and not be charged. 

2. Restraining or holding partner against their will 

3. Using physical force to intimidate or control 

4. Using weapons or objects to threaten or harm 

5. Pinning partner down, holding them in a chokehold or standing in doorways preventing them leaving. Standing in the doorway, chest drilling the victim to the ground when they try to leave a room. 

6. Forcing partner to engage in physical activities against their will. Or having the knowledge how to poison without it showing up on toxicology. 

7. Using their physical strength to overpower and control 

8. Using their access to firearms to threaten or intimidate. Using their physical presence to intimidate or frighten

9.  Physically forcing partner to have sex or engage in sexual activities. 

10. Sexual abuse: Forced sexual contact or coercion, including rape, by the officer on their intimate partner. Coercion of sexual activities that harm or intend to intimidate the victim. Continuous affairs in a monogamous relationship pose a risk of disease transmission to the victim.  Inappropriate relationships with subordinate officers or members of the public whom they have encountered in their policing role. Sexual misconduct is where the officer uses transactional sexual activity (prostitution, paid or unpaid) instigated as a known police officer in the local area. 

Police are well trained how not to leave bruises or marks and knowing how get away with it if they do

Emotional/Psychological Abuse: 

1. Behaviours that cause emotional distress inflicted by the officer on their intimate partner. 

It's important to remember that psychological abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse and may be more difficult to recognise.

2. Emotional blackmail. Constant criticism and belittling 

3. Gaslighting (manipulating perception of reality) 

4. Threats of arrest or legal action 

5. Intimidation and bullying 

6. Isolation from friends and family 

7. Monitoring and controlling partner's movements. Stalking. Unwanted surveillance, harassment, or monitoring. Repeatedly following, watching, or harassing the partner, either in person or through electronic means. Or using police technology/resources to access personal records or information of victims.

8. Making partner feel trapped and helpless and have no where to go to get help

9. Playing on partner's fears and insecurities 

10. Making partner feel responsible for officer's actions. Using DARVO

11. Making partner feel guilty for reporting abuse or convincing them they are the real problem

12. Being told they will never beable to walk into a police station ever again and receive help for anything

13. Using their position to discredit partner. Defamation tactics. 

14. Threatening to harm themselves or others if partner leaves. Or threats that if she leaves then she will never get any mental health help as the police will dicard her as soon as they are separated. 

15. Purposely controlling the environment to cause the victim to react or defend herself, only to have this used against them. Recording their actions when they do. Plus deleting evidence from when they assaulted their partners so they have the only evidence. They are told if they report it, no one would believe them and they have evidence to have them charged or send them to a mental hospital

16. Sending other police officers to follow them as intendended intimidation. 'Boys in Blue code' and telling her continuously 'they have my back' and you wont be believed.

17. Threats and Intimidation: Using the officer's power or authority to threaten or intimidate the partner, such as threatening to arrest or harm them. 

Coercive Control: A pattern of behaviour that seeks to control the partner's actions, decisions, or emotions, such as monitoring their activities or restricting their access to resources. Coercive control is taught to the cadets from the start of training, introduced as the power and control. These cadets are taught to command authority in the verbal sense and then taught to become physical if people do not obey their verbal command. Research shows that these repeated behaviours then spill over into the family dynamics, and it's when the police wife describes 'he is a cop at work and a cop at home, he doesn't switch it off'. 

Why is addressing coercive control so important?

a. Emotional manipulation: Using their authority and knowledge of the legal system to intimidate, belittle, and control their partner. 

b. Isolation: Restricting their partner's freedom, monitoring their movements, and limiting contact with friends and family. 

c. Gaslighting: Manipulating their partner's perception of reality, making them doubt their own sanity or memory. 

d. Economic control: Controlling finances, restricting access to resources, and using their knowledge of the legal system to exploit their partner financially. 

e. Physical intimidation: Using physical presence, gestures, or weapons to intimidate and control their partner. 

f. Surveillance: Using their access to surveillance technology and resources to monitor their partner's activities. 

g. Threats: Using their knowledge of the legal system to make threats against their partner, such as threatening to arrest or charge them with a crime. 

h. Playing on fear: Using their partner's fear of the legal system or their own fear of losing their job to control and manipulate them. 

i. Minimizing and blaming: Downplaying the severity of their behaviour and blaming their partner for the abuse. 

j. Using their position: Using their position of power to discredit their partner, make them feel powerless, or threaten to use their authority to harm them. 

It's important to note that these techniques can be subtle and may not always be obvious, but they can still have a significant impact on the victim. 

Isolation: When the victim does not have a safe place to go to for help and is unable to go to the local police station where her partner works this is causes for isolation. 

Restricting the partner's access to friends, family, or other support networks. 

Police training teaches cadets to take control of a situation they are to separate this victims or the person of interest. They learn from repeating these behaviours that if they can gain the trust of the person, they can manipulate and control the situation. The police know from experience in the legal system that appearing as the good guy with lots of supports and statements will influence the court. They spend countless number of hours on character assassination turning family and friends against the victim, appearing as the 'good guy', and then in turn that the victim is the crazy one. This further traumatises the victim and how the start of mental health problems occur, such as CPTSD. They learn not to trust anyone.

This is where trained health professionals are able to recognise 'fear'. Victims that are in 'fear' have a fear response.  Victims can have intense feelings to run away (flight) or give in (fawning) which means they will take whatever abuse is thrown towards them. The perpetrator will generally be making the most amount of effort to defame and attack the victim. This is where untrained people attending the DV scene will side with the most convincing person.  Many times the police have placed ADVOs on the victim and in the case of Sue an expolice wife (NSW Government DV Death Review Team 2019-2021 Case 413) this resulted in her death and her body has never been found. 

Mothers naturally protect their children, they spend time making sure the children are not seeing the violence, hearing the violence or knowing that it is happening where she can. The same thing happens in the community, where she will pretend he is 'perfect' to keep up his facade. Wives are usually coercively controlled in these circumstances by the husband and sometimes wives are coached about what she can say and what she can't say. This then further protects the image of the police officer and is why many people have a difficult time believing that it was going on in the first place. This keeps the facade of a hero to others and a villain at home. 

This isolation has long-term effects, including CPTSD, where research shows that if the victim is left untreated it will have severe consequences. Research shows the next intimate relationship she has there is an increased probability it will become abusive due to the fact she will not go to the police for help. Women are also seeking shelter or safety in unsafe places. The new partner might be her only way to remain safe from the police. Not only that, but these relationships can also occur again and again leaving the victim in a constant state of "failure to protect" under the legal system.  

Financial abuse: Controlling finances, withholding resources, or exploiting the partner's financial situation. Control or manipulation of the partner's finances, such as withholding money or making financial decisions without their input. Moving around to accommodate partners' employment positions can cause further financial abuse. Post separation, using the court system or child support to drain the victims finances ie counter ADVOs. Using their position to gain the best lawyers in the community and financially exploit their partner. Research shows that women who marry police officers will be worse off financially after the divorce. Where as the police perpetrators are given police pensions, remained employed being promoted or discharged for mental health reasons with a pay out, but ultimately they remain financially stable. The courts have failed repeatedly to recognise this. As well as leaving the mental health destruction and devastation of untreated trauma inside these families.

 BEHIND CLOSED [BLUE] DOORS:OFFICER-INVOLVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 

Most victims of domestic violence are women, who are economically disadvantaged compared with men. The police culture of extreme loyalty often leads officers to convince a victim of OIDV that she would be economically better off if she did not cause her husband to lose his job on the force; sometimes she is even convinced to recant previous statements to cover up domestic violence allegations. According to the Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department, the code of silence constitutes “the greatest single barrier to the effective investigation and adjudication of complaints against police officers.” UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL of LAW & PUBLIC AFFAIRS Vol 2 June 2017 no1 

Trauma Bonding: Creating a psychological bond with the partner through repeated cycles of abuse and reconciliation, making it difficult for the partner to leave the relationship. The police officer is trained to play good cop / bad cop and can switch roles in an instant, which exacerbates the trauma bond syndrome. The safety of the police family and coping with the abuse may feel safer than leaving the police family and knowing the severity of the abuse will lie ahead. 

For risk identification we can use MARAM

Invitations to collude

An adult using family violence may use tactics to try to get you to align with their position. 

This is known as an invitation to collude.

You are responsible for identifying invitations to collude and responding in ways that are non-collusive and maintain the adult using family violence's engagement with the service system.

Invitations to collude may appear in the following ways:

• Minimising, denying, justifying, blaming, mutualising, pathologising.
  E.g. "She's making it sound so much worse than it was."
• Inviting empathy from a professional or taking a ‘victim stance’.
  E.g. "My wife's unwell and I have to do everything. Shopping and cleaning the house for her, as well as working and looking after the kids. It's hard."
• Positioning themselves as more ‘credible’ in comparison to the victim survivor.
  E.g. “You can’t trust what she says.”
• Aligning themselves to you through personal connection or jokes.
  E.g. “You’re married, you know what women can be like.”

Adults using family violence may be misidentified as victim survivors for a range of reasons, they may:

• use the criminal justice system to control the victim survivor by using the police and making false accusations
• falsely accuse a victim survivor of using violence or misrepresent their self-defence as evidence of violence
• overtly present themselves as the victim of the violence to manipulate services and get them ‘on side’ with their narrative
• cite substance misuse by the victim survivor as evidence to support their claim they are a perpetrator
• present with narratives of injustice from system interventions, which may be related to their own experiences of violence, marginalisation and discrimination.

Secondary abuse, also known as secondary victimization, refers to the further trauma or harm experienced by victims of abuse or violence as a result of their interactions with the systems or individuals meant to provide support, help, or justice. 

This can include:  

1. Insensitive or dismissive treatment by authorities, service providers, or others.
2. Lack of understanding or knowledge about the abuse or its impact.
3. Blaming or shaming the victim.
4. Inadequate or ineffective support services.

Secondary abuse can exacerbate the original trauma, making it harder for victims to heal and seek justice. It's essential for systems and individuals to prioritise victim-centered approaches, empathy, and understanding.  

"By proxy" in the context of domestic violence typically refers to situations where an abuser uses a third party or intermediary to exert control or harm over the victim. This can include:  

1. Using children: An abuser might use children to manipulate or coerce the victim, such as threatening to harm them or using custody disputes as leverage.
2. Using others: An abuser might enlist friends, family members, or even professionals (like therapists or lawyers) to further their abusive agenda.
3. Online harassment: An abuser might use social media, email, or other digital means to harass the victim, sometimes through proxies or fake accounts.
4. Economic control: An abuser might control the victim's access to finances, employment, or resources through intermediaries.

Setting you up Abuser is in Law Enforcement | WomensLaw.org 

If an abusive officer thinks you are going to report him/her to the authorities, he may use his position and knowledge of police rules and laws to make it seem like you’re the one causing trouble. In other words, he may make up a version of events that makes it look like he is the victim and you are the abuser in the hope that you will get arrested. He may tell this made-up story to friends, family, other officers, bosses, lawyers, or the judge.

The abuser may do any of the following in response to your report of abuse to the authorities:

• say that you made him/her do it, or that you are crazy, lying, jealous, or trying to get back at him;
• try to convince others that you are making up the abuse allegation just to try to destroy his career;
• try to get to the police first saying you hurt him so that you are already seen as the aggressor by the police;
• get a restraining order against you first so you seem less believable if you file for one;
• set you up to get arrested by forcing you to do something risky like drinking and driving or saying you attacked him or disturbed the peace;
• say you’re a danger to yourself or others so you get taken to a hospital or psych ward against your will, especially if you are fighting for custody of your children; or
• tell you to leave with the children, and then accuse you of parental kidnapping.

Police who are well trained in DARVO

Deny, attack, reverse victim and offender is a three-step method of twisting accountability. Originally coined by psychology researcher Jennifer Freyd, the DARVO process can look something like this:

1. Deny. The abuser vehemently denies the survivor’s account of what happened. This can involve gaslighting the survivor to make the survivor doubt their memory of events. The survivor may begin to question whether or not they’re “blowing it out of proportion” as the abuser continues to minimize what they remember happening. 
2. Attack. The abuser shifts the focus to the survivor’s credibility and whether or not others should believe them. This could include bringing up past indiscretions (real or fabricated) in the survivor’s past, questioning the survivor’s mental health, accusing the survivor of abusing drugs or alcohol or asserting the survivor is the abusive one when really the survivor was reacting to the abuse being inflicted. The abuser may even insinuate that the survivor wanted what happened or that, because the couple is married, the abuser couldn’t have possibly sexually assaulted them (not true, by the way). The end result can be that the survivor feels bullied or disparaged into staying quiet or may feel some sense of the abuse being their own fault. (Be aware, trauma-related guilt is a liar.)
3. Reverse Victim and Offender. The final step of this twisted manipulation tactic is for the abuser to secure their title of “victim” and position the actual survivor as the offender. They might contend that the survivor has some vendetta to destroy them. They might say the survivor is lying in order to turn people against the abuser, become more popular, “take away” their children or receive a larger divorce settlement. The abuser might claim they’re a “victim of the system” (the criminal justice system). They may use their socioeconomic standing, race or gender to support their claim. All the while, the survivor’s actual disclosure of abuse is overshadowed and the survivor will end up spending more time trying to defend her reputation than receiving help for the abuse. 

OIDV is a significant concern due to:   

1. Power imbalance: Officers' authority, training, and access to firearms can exacerbate the abuse. 

2. Institutional betrayal: Victims may feel betrayed by the police organisation, making it difficult to report the abuse. 

3. Underreporting: OIDV is often underreported due to fear of retaliation, shame, or loyalty to the officer.   

Consequences of OIDV can include:   

1. Physical harm or death 

2. Emotional trauma and C/PTSD 

3. Loss of trust in law enforcement 

4. Difficulty seeking help or reporting abuse 

5. Negative impact on children and families   

Addressing OIDV requires:   

1. Specialised training for law enforcement 

2. Clear policies and procedures for reporting and investigating OIDV 

3. Support services for victims 

4. Accountability and consequences for offending officers 

5. Cultural shift within law enforcement to prioritise victim safety and accountability