Help the Cops to Help YOU

(updated 6/18/98)

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO USE 911
THE LIFE THEY SAVE COULD BE YOURS.

• If you leave because of an incident of abuse, be prepared. Go to the police station or to a shelter immediately. Help the police to help you. They will ask you questions about the incident and ask you to make a sworn statement. Remember that as a victim you have the right (under statute in some states) to have a Victim's Advocate present while filling out the police report.

• They can help bridge the gap between the emotional despair you're feeling and the police officer who is trying to get as much information out of you in this state as possible. If you are uncomfortable, you can ask for a female officer. Don't be afraid to ask to have someone else there. Some people would rather have a friend or relative present for support, others prefer the compassion of a stranger here. Ask for whatever is right for YOU. You will be asked the standard questions about your abuser: name, address, date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color etc.

• However, if you can provide any of the following information, the chances of your abuser being arrested quickly begin to skyrocket: (dont' count on your memory here, if tends to fail you at the worst moments). BE PREPARED:
  • Social security number

  • Year, make and model of any vehicles and the LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS

  • be SURE to note anything "odd" about the vehicle...cracks, dents, bumper stickers etc (officers see lists of many "suspect" vehicles during daily briefings and they will be more likely to remember a bumper sticker than a general vehicle description)

  • the abusers place of employment and the address

  • scars, marks or tatoos

  • places they frequent (bars, friend's houses etc)

  • A PHOTOGRAPH

  • also be sure to mention any drug use and if known to carry any type of weapon

• You may even want to write this all down ahead of time and keep it in your kit, it will make the questioning session with the police shorter and take some of the strain off of you. It's never an easy process, but don't forget to take care of yourself emotionally when you take the step to protect yourself physically.

• If the abuser has fled the scene and you are scared to go back, ask the police to go with you while you pack clothing and other items. The Victim's Advocate can usually get this done if your particular police officer is hesitant about taking this time with you. You can also file a complaint to the Chief of Police. You can always call the local sheriff's office if the city cops can't or won't help you and DON'T take NO for an answer here!!

• However, many times after the officer assists the victim and writes the reports to pursue prosecution of the offender, the victim attempts to withdraw their complaint. Often the victim recants their story and fails to participate in the prosecution of the offender. Some fear retaliation or abandonment from the offender. In many instances the victims are dependent upon the offender as the sole means of shelter and financial support. The State Attorney can charge the perpetrator but has a better chance of conviction if the victim is willing to testify.

  Other portions of this web site may help you get assistance regarding shelter and financial aid.

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  REMEMBER: The police rely on YOU to judge how effectively their "style" of policing is serving the community. If you have either positive or negative comments about the way the police helped you, consider providing that feedback in a letter or phone call to the police chief. Keep a copy of your letter for future reference and request either a follow-up call or letter in response. If your letter is a complaint, consider going to the police department and asking for a copy of the department policies and procedures regarding their response to domestic violence and abuse cases. It may be that your department has strong policies in place, but that the officers who answered your call for help failed to abide by them. Or you may find that the policies are lacking in and of themselves. In either case, the department needs to be notified of the problem before they can approach ways to correct the situation(s).

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  AS ALWAYS,
  IF YOU HAVE A PROTECTIVE ORDER/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INJUNCTION,
  SHOW IT TO THE OFFICER IMMEDIATELY.

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