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Careers: Police/domestic violence

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Expert: - 3/14/2008


Question
I have a 7 years old son and a stepdaughter living with me in a home I bought almost 3 years ago. 8 months ago a woman came into my life and she moved in, shortly after that I found she has a drinking problem. In Feb. of this year we had an argument about her wanting go out after she had already had a few drinks and she got angry and grabbed my hair and would not let go, the kids got scared and my stepdaughter ran outside with the phone and was screaming, when I finally got loose I went outto get the phone to call the cops and calm my stepdaughter down. I went back in the house to calm down my son and before I could call, the cops showed up( I think the neighbors called because of my stepdaughter screaming) anyway when they got there the woman was sleeping in her car and they woke her up andshe told them I slapped her. I was arrested and my children were left there with her. When I insisted on getting my phone call to have my mom pick up the kids they refused because they said I was being uncooperative. I have not been allowed to go back to my home since. I have trial in May. And the restraining order is for a year. The woman is living in my home while I make the mortgage payments and the utilities and my son and I are having to live between motels and my moms house. It ois a 40 mile round trip to take him to school. Do my son and I have no rights to our own home? The woman did not press any charges.

Answer
Jeff,

   Not sure why you chose Police Careers to ask the question but I will take a stab at it.  Obviously you live in a state where the domestic violence laws allow the police to make an arrest based on the word of one of the domestic partners and/or a sign, no matter how slight, of injury.  In MY state the police are required by law to make an arrest of anyone who has an injury, no matter how slight, after the other accuses the other of domestic violence.  I am pretty sure that this is what happened in your case.

   You haven't mentioned that you are represented by an attorney.  You aren't allowed in your house, you are living in a hotel, the woman is living in your house and you don't have legal representation?  That is pretty amazing to me.  My advice would be to get an attorney asap and all of this might be cleared up.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

U.S.: I am an expert in this category for the purpose of giving young people an idea what the hiring process involves for the position of police officer. I am getting a flood of questions from young people who are being influenced by unrealistic television shows. I'd ask you to consider that when you watch police shows on television that they are NOT realistic and most of what you see does not happen in real life. Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer so I cannot answer questions about probation and parole matters. I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience.I worked in a variety of assignments including investigations, homicide, sex crimes, runaway investigations, missing persons, and fraud.I also dealt with the general public during that time giving a wide range of advice on matters such as domestic disputes, problem solving, teenage problems, civil/criminal matters, and dealing with the mentally ill. I am available to give sound and reasonable advice which can solve most problems. Please do not ask me to do homework questions or online interviews. Young people should not rely on the Internet for interviews. Local police officers are normally very agreeable to assist students with interviews and surveys.

Experience

Worked as a police officer/detective for 26 years.

Graduate of the University of Maryland.B.S. in Law Enforcement.Attended numerous schools and training courses involving investigations, interviewing, interrogations, crime detection, domestic violence, and others. Recognized in court as an expert witness.

Received numerous awards during my police career for expert investigations. Handled the most sensitive and confidential investigations. In 1999 I won an award for my work with high school students while working in my new career in a large suburban high school.

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