The Link Between the Museum

Whenever I tell someone that the National Law Enforcement Museum is currently developing domestic violence prevention programs, their initial reaction is one of enthusiasm. Frequently, however, a look of wonder soon overshadows their countenance: "That sounds great," they reply, "but why domestic violence? Why is it important for the National Law Enforcement Museum to focus on domestic violence prevention?"

Tragically, each year an estimated 1.3 million women in the United States are physically assaulted by an intimate partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. This fact alone demonstrates the magnitude of the public safety problem that domestic violence (DV) presents for law enforcement. And every day, officers play a pivotal role in trying to manage it. They are often the first contact for violence-prone families, provide a "free" service, are visible authority figures, and are "likely to be the only public agency in a position to provide rapid assistance on a 24-hour basis." What many people do not realize, however, is that DV takes a heavy toll on the nation’s law enforcement community as well.

DV calls are among the most dangerous calls that law enforcement officers respond to. Such situations can be extremely volatile since the individuals involved are often emotionally charged, and weapons may be involved. Since 1855, 663 officers have lost their lives while responding to domestic disturbance calls in the United States, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). Moreover, far more officers are assaulted during domestic disturbance calls than during any other circumstance. In 2007, 32 percent of the 59,201 assaults on police officers occurred during domestic disturbance calls, according to the FBI. The next highest category, "attempting other arrests," resulted in only 15 percent of total assaults against officers. And these statistics say nothing of the vicarious trauma that may be inflicted on the responding officers.

In this light, it is easy to understand why DV has been and will remain a critical issue for American law enforcement. And since part of the NLEM’s mission is to tell their story and contribute to a safer society, there is a clear rationale for us to be involved in developing DV prevention programs. In recognition of this, the NLEOMF received a generous grant from the Verizon Foundation in May, 2009. As the Museum’s Community Education Specialist, it is my responsibility to help implement and evaluate the grant’s two DV prevention projects, both of which fall under our "Socially Responsible Educational Programs." The Domestic Violence Prevention Advisory Committee- a diverse group of more than a dozen experts from the fields of DV prevention, law enforcement, and public- and museum education- has been brought together to ensure that these two programs are innovative
and effective.

When the Museum opens, K-12 students and their families will visit for kIDsafe, an interactive, monthly family day event during which they will learn how to stay safe. The DV component of the event will focus on increasing the visitors’ use of DV prevention strategies. For example, young children could create a list of people to turn to for safety, and teenagers might learn to recognize, early on, the signs of an unhealthy relationship. On the other hand, the "DV Awareness and Prevention Program" will be a certification program that will enable teachers, school counselors, and administrators within the Washington Metropolitan Region to identify and prevent DV among the student population. And by collaborating with law enforcement officers who are based in their schools, these professionals will be able to create a protocol to help their colleagues vigorously address the issue when it arises.

By developing these programs, the Museum hopes to decrease incidents of domestic violence, and ultimately, to increase respect, trust and confidence between law enforcement and domestic violence victims, their families and the general public. In mid-October, we were happy to welcome onto our staff Smita Varia as our DV Prevention Specialist, and we view her addition as another step forward on the way to achieving these objectives.