Frederick Ryan, Chief of Police
112 Mystic St.
Arlington, MA 02474
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Contact: Captain Richard Flynn, PIO
Office: 781-316-3907
Cell: 781-844-1224
Email: rflynn@town.arlington.ma.us
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Arlington Police Officers Complete Domestic Violence Training Course
ARLINGTON — Police Chief Frederick Ryan is pleased to announce that 47 officers of all ranks from the Arlington Police Department completed three days of domestic violence training last week.
From Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18, members of the department became well-versed in a variety of topics surrounding domestic violence, including:
- Available services and how to access them in Arlington and across the state
- Types of abuse and the cycle of violence
- High-risk team model and high-risk assessments
- The impact and effects of trauma on victims and children
- Legal updates on the new legislation passed in August 2014, “An Act Relative to Domestic Violence.”
REACH Beyond Domestic Violence – a service agency that assists 6,000 people each year through a combination of intervention and prevention tactics – led three interactive sessions through lecture, video and open dialogue.
“Officers had the benefit of attending training with REACH to expand their knowledge about the new domestic violence regulations and best practices during calls for service,” Chief Ryan said. “Domestic violence is a serious crime and continued training in this area helps assure officers can keep our community safe.”
Arlington Police Department’s Mental Health Clinician, along with officers from the Belmont Police Department and staff from the Arlington Department of Health and Human Services, also completed the course.
The training was offered in conjunction with the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC)– a division of the Arlington Department of Health and Human Services — and First Step Domestic Violence Program based in Arlington.
“We know domestic abuse has long lasting effects on victims and their family members, especially children,” AYCC Director Colleen Leger said. “The more we know and the more preventative measures we can implement, the more lives we can save. This is why equipping first responders like police officers with the knowledge they need to help combat domestic violence is so important.”
Jessica Teperow, Director of Prevention Programs at REACH, Rebecca Gallagher, Arlington’s Family Services Inspector, and the Arlington Police Department’s Training/Support Services Office developed the three-day agenda.
This training was offered as part of a larger 18-month grant awarded to the Department of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Arlington Police Department. The main objective of the grant, which is funded by Mount Auburn Hospital and the Community Health Network Area 17 (CHNA 17) is to promote earlier and increased identification of domestic violence situations and increased access to supportive resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence.
REACH also offers a 24-hour hotline and shelter, community-based advocacy, child and adolescent therapy and domestic violence prevention programs.
For more information about REACH visit reachma.org
Event this Week:
The Town of Arlington’s First Step Domestic Violence Program, along with the White Ribbon Campaign, will host a community event to raise domestic violence awareness on Thursday, March 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. This event will take place at Arlington Town Hall in the Lyon’s Hearing Room. The event will include a viewing and discussion of a TED Talk Video entitled, Violence Against Women – It’s a Men’s Issue” featuring Jackson Katz. Discussion around engaging men on the issue of Domestic Violence will led by Selectman Joe Curro, and co-founder of the White Ribbon Campaign, Craig Norberg-Bohm. Although an event geared towards men, all are welcome. For more information contact First Step at 781-316-3219 or visit arlingtonfirststep.com/events.
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