Law enforcement, it’s fair to say, has a troubled relationship to domestic violence. Police are often, though not always, the first responders to a violent situation in the home. And research has shown that even if there is no arrest, a police response can be a significant deterrent for re-abuse, as well as increase the likelihood that a victim will access local domestic violence services, like protective orders.1 But police can also be the perpetrators themselves—rates of domestic violence among police officers are two to four times higher than the general population.
