In the News

Swampscott police first for DA’s new domestic violence training

By George Derringer
The Swampscott Reporter
June 09, 2008

Swampscott police officers will be the first in Essex County to receive special training about domestic violence, a problem declared a “public health emergency” by Gov. Deval Patrick on June 5.

Special training has been arranged by Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, the chief said, adding that Swampscott officers will be trained in the protocols set up by Blodgett’s office June 20 and 24.

Training is done by members of Blodgett’s office staff and Amesbury Detective Bob Wile, the chief said.

The training will focus on lethality assessment, preventing homicides and stalking. It will also focus on the increase in domestic violence calls and the escalation of violence in domestic violence incidents, specifically strangulation, and enhancing investigation and prosecution, Madigan said.

“Why are we first? We have a very proactive Detective Unit, particularly Detective Ted Delano,” Madigan said. “He has a great relationship with the DA’s office and with HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children). He’s our family service officer and works closely with the (state) Department of Social Services as well.”
Madigan stresses that domestic violence is not something that occurs “somewhere else.”

“Our department responds to more than 100 domestic calls a year,” the chief notes. “And our detectives manage about 130 restraining orders at any given time.”
Madigan says some of the planned training will involve working with other agencies and help local police officers learn “warning signs” of potentially dangerous behavior yet to come.

“We are also going to review our own policy and make changes here, helping officers to note things at the scene of a crime and improve their report writing,” he adds.
State emphasizes problem

On the state level, Patrick cited a tripling in domestic violence homicides in the last two years, directing public health and safety officials to review data in the last three years and produce a trend analysis.

“Everybody can and should do something to prevent domestic violence,” Patrick urged at a press conference announcing the review and the strengthening of training for police officers on domestic violence and sex crimes.

In 2007, there were 42 murders and 13 suicides related to domestic violence in Massachusetts, averaging almost one a week and the highest rate since the early ’90s, according to Jane Doe, Inc., an advocacy group. In 2005, there were 15 murders and four suicides.

This year has seen 19 domestic violence homicides and five suicides, according to the group.

Patrick called the figures a “dramatic spike,” and Mary Lauby, executive director of Jane Doe, Inc., said the brutality of the violence is “more horrendous than ever.”
The advisory also noted that a 2003 Centers for Disease Control study estimated national “intimate partner” violence costs an annual $5.8 billion a year, including medical and mental health costs and lost productivity.

Patrick also announced that he had signed into law a bill creating statewide guidelines for hospitals dealing with violence victims. The bill (H 4348) was sponsored by Rep. Byron Rushing, D-South End.

Patrick and Lauby pointed to a lack of coordination in the state’s anti-violence infrastructure across the state as one factor in the rise.

“We’ve let it fall apart,” she said. Lauby said an “anti-immigrant environment” was another factor, with immigrants afraid to approach police officers. “Immigrant victims are afraid to reach out for help,” she said. “It is literally killing people because they’re afraid to come forward.”

More information about domestic violence programs is available at mass.gov/dph or at the Department of Public Health’s Batterer Intervention Program Services at 617-624-5497.

(Material by Gintautas Dumcius of State House News Service was used for this story.)