Domestic violence within law enforcement households
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) – Advocates for victims of domestic violence say domestic violence within law enforcement households is an under researched topic. But these advocates say it's believed the rate of domestic violence within a law enforcement household is two times the national average for a regular household.
These advocates say it's already an issue overall that happens more often than reports and numbers would lead us to believe, but especially when the abuse is happening at the hands of someone who is a law enforcement officer, the victims are often afraid to come forward and make a report.
"They're going to be afraid because they will likely be told, you know, 'don't say anything or I could lose my job' or 'nobody is going to believe you' and 'I'll kill you'," Sunny Slaughter, law enforcement expert and litigation consultant, said.
Slaughter says police are around to "protect and serve," and it applies not only to the public, but departments need to police their own officers to uphold them to the same laws and standards.
"There are real life consequences to being in law enforcement. The stress, the burden, the barriers, the things that you go home with that people, that you can't talk about. The things that you see that you carry in your spirit and soul that you have to investigate," Slaughter said. "But that is not a reason to do what we are seeing in this profession."
Slaughter says PTSD and trauma are not excuses for domestic violence, and it's important to see police departments like Birmingham taking a zero-tolerance stance on this issue.
"I would like to thank them for being responsive and immediately following up, getting the arrest warrant and doing their due diligence to ensure that this does not happen, and that this is addressed, and that is what we need because DV strangulation is an enhancement," Slaughter said.
According to One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center, domestic violence victims of strangulation are 700% more likely to be killed by their abuser.
"If someone is being strangled, we want to be able to assist them and help them understand the type of danger that they're in," Rebecca McWilliams, One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center executive director, said.
McWilliams says the most important thing the community can do for victims of domestic violence is believe them when they come forward and be patient as she says on average, it can take seven times before someone leaves their abuser.
"They're worried that the system isn't going to support them," McWilliams said. "We also know that they're worried about losing access to insurance and other financial resources that they need."
The Birmingham Police Department released a statement regarding the arrest of officer Justin Bisharat on domestic violence charges. It reads:
We reached out to BPD for further comment on domestic violence within law enforcement households and were told updated comments from Thurmond will be given next week.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you can get help by calling the 24-hour crisis line at 205-322-4878 or 205-322-HURT. You can also find more resources through the One Place website linked HERE or through the YWCA, linked HERE .
