Season 1 Episode 25: When Police Officers Commit Domestic Violence: An Interview with Alex Roslin
About This Episode
When police officers commit domestic violence, it harms their family, the public, and the efficiency and effectiveness of police departments. Domestic violence survivors who are partnered with police officers face unique vulnerabilities and challenges. Officers who perpetrate domestic violence are often the same people who are involved in excessive force and altercations with their peers. It is believed that 2 in 5 domestic violence police calls are responded to by police officers who have a history of domestic violence perpetration.
In this episode, Ruth and David have a far-ranging conversation with Alex Roslin, an award-winning journalist and the author of Police Wife, about:
How he first learned about the issue of OIDV from a survivor who was participating in a support group that was one-half partners of gang members and the other half were partners of police officers
How he began researching OIDV across the world
How often police officers who are known to commit domestic violence remain on the job, responding to domestic violence survivors’ calls for law enforcement assistance
The lack of resources for OIDV survivors
The linkages between OIDV and excessive force used against civilians
How OIDV perpetrators use their position, power, training, and relationships to engage in coercive control
The need for improved policy and statutes to create better transparency, training, and consequences for OIDV perpetration
Additional Resources
Safe & Together Institute’s domestic abuse–informed trainings
Safe & Together Institute’s upcoming events
David Mandel’s book Stop Blaming Mothers and Ignoring Fathers: How to Transform the Way We Keep Children Safe from Domestic Violence