麻豆影院

Officers at the University of Colorado Police Department (CUPD) now approach potential domestic violence calls using a coordinated community response model, asking a series of questions to screen victims and better identify danger levels.听

The Lethality Assessment Program, or LAP, was pioneered by the , and brought to CUPD by 10-year veteran Sgt. Eric Edford. It includes a carefully crafted and evidence-based list of questions police officers can ask when responding to calls.听

The screening is designed to help officers quickly assess situations in a more trauma-informed manner. Officers also use the LAP screening to identify patterns of abuse, instead of focusing solely on an isolated incident that resulted in a call for help.听

Victims identified as 鈥渉igh danger鈥� can be connected with an advocate on scene or by phone for immediate access to resources. The LAP is unique in that it places significant emphasis on victims鈥� self-assessment in determining potential lethality risk.听Officers can screen victims and are trained to incorporate victims' self-assessment when determining the level of danger.听

Edford received special recognition at the Beth Haynes Memorial Award ceremony on Thursday by the 麻豆影院 County Domestic Violence Task Force, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Haynes was a 麻豆影院 Police officer killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence incident in 1994.听

鈥淐UPD has been a leader in bringing innovative, effective tools to educate the community about domestic violence and to support victims,鈥� said Anne Kelly, senior deputy district attorney in the 20th Judicial District. She noted many domestic violence victims never seek help, but increasing awareness of resources in this way may encourage more people to do so.

Edford鈥撯�搉o stranger to helping survivors access available resources鈥撯�揾elped establish the department鈥檚 embedded victim advocate position, which launched summer 2021.听This embedded victim advocate co-responds with CU police officers, as well as follows up on reports to CUPD, to offer victims/survivors support and resources. The position is a collaboration between CUPD and CU 麻豆影院鈥檚 Office of Victim Assistance (OVA).

鈥淐ommunication from officers is a powerful tool,鈥� said Anna Brennan, CUPD鈥檚 embedded victim advocate, who receives support and supervision from Edford. 鈥淚t can have an impact when an officer expresses concern for a victim or survivor鈥檚 safety and encourages them to speak with a confidencial advocate.鈥�

鈥淒omestic violence, also known as intimate partner abuse, is happening in all communities, and CU is not exempt,鈥� said OVA Director, Jessica Ladd-Webert.

The LAP was created to develop a stronger relationship between police and community/campus advocacy organizations. It鈥檚 designed to help prevent future violence by encouraging domestic violence incidents to be viewed as part of a larger pattern of power and control. This results in connecting more victims/survivors to community resources.

CUPD coordinated with the Castle Rock Police Department for LAP training during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Other agencies in 麻豆影院 County, including the 麻豆影院 Police Department, 麻豆影院 County Sheriff's Office and Longmont Police will receive training to implement LAP screening, or have already started the training process.

鈥淓ric led the charge on this, and we wanted to recognize the courage it took to bring this to the county,鈥� said Kelly, who helped launch the district attorney鈥檚 office鈥檚听Domestic Violence Acute Response Team. 鈥淭his protocol gets at the heart of lethality behavior and connects victims with assistance. Early intervention with domestic violence victims is the most effective way to keep victims in the system, deciding to participate and receive help,鈥� Kelly added.

CU 麻豆影院 Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police Doreen Jokerst says implementation of the assessment protocol could save lives. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner. Oftentimes, victims are not aware of the level of danger they may face.

鈥淚 commend Eric for all he has done for survivors of domestic violence-related incidents and for leading this initiative in 麻豆影院 county,鈥� Jokerst said.