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69th Pct. Unit Keeps Vigil On Victims Of Domestic Violence
"These officers volunteer, wholeheartedly, for this special unit every day," Silva said. "Whether it's a dispute among a couple, parents and children or the elderly, we want residents to know they shouldn't be living in fear and if they feel their safety is being compromised, they can come to us in confidence." Officers Thompson and Clarke, who were on regular patrol duty for many years, signed up with the unit last November. "I think this job is more hands-on than being a patrol officer," said Thompson. "We actually get to sit down and talk to people in the community about what's really going on in their homes." Initially, when a local domestic incident is reported to 9-1-1, the 69th Precinct dispatches patrol officers to the victim's home. When another complaint is made at the same location, Thompson and Clarke go to the scene and request the victim(s) file a Domestic Incident Report (DIR). The report describes the victim's situation in as much detail as they can furnish. The officers then follow up with visits to the victim(s) two to three times a week and spend as much time as necessary at the home. As many as 60 victims a month, five to fifteen on a daily basis, are visited. "We'll chat with the victims for a few minutes, see if they need anything and assess their situation," said Thompson. "Each time we visit, we look at the overall condition of their home. Our main concern is that we recognize those victims who need to be visited on a regular basis. We'll also refer them to counseling services they might not be aware of." "I feel good being on the unit because I'm not only helping people and saving children from their abusive situations, I'm also working to stop the violent incidents from escalating," said Clarke. Domestic violence prevention training involves officers attending basic conferences and discussions for one year. Afterwards, they undergo field training and accompany fellow officers to victims' homes where they learn the techniques of how to talk to families. Silva said she looks forward to citywide improvements of the Domestic Violence Unit. "It would be great if officers within the unit had specially marked vehicles for making their visits so residents don't get the idea that the officers' presence means something bad happened," Silva said. "We also need to improve how we get the word out about the program - we want all the publicity we can get so people who need us are tended to. And while there are only two officers with the unit now, we would ask more to join if we needed them. A lot of it has to do with the resources available to us." Specific statistics for every domestic violence case is unknown, Silva pointed out, because not every incident is initially reported. However, the unit sometimes learns of an escalating situation when a victim finally decides to seek help after an increase in the severity of abuse. "It will start with verbal threats, then physical abuse and it can reach a point where victims feel their lives are really in danger," she said. "We examine the victim's history and there are rare cases where we have to report the situation to the District Attorney's office. Some victims - in extreme cases - need witness protection programs. We haven't had many of those in this community, thankfully." In urgent situations, the officers may recommend the victims relocate to shelters, which serve as safe havens for battered women and their children. Silva said many families rely on Thompson and Clarke to come to their homes. "A lot of children seem to feel safer knowing our officers are coming to visit. Once they know mommy and daddy aren't going to be taken away from them - that the officers are trying to help - they're very receptive." For more information on the Domestic Violence Unit, call the 69th Precinct at 1-718-257-6210.
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