Citizens Police Academy members met Tuesday night at the Bloomington Police Station to learn about domestic violence issues via a PowerPoint presentation.
Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Pam Gladish lectured on the dangers of domestic violence along with the cycle that it tends to follow.
Gladish said the definition of domestic violence has changed since 2016. She said until 2016, it applied only to spouses. Since then, when the law changed, it is now more of an umbrella term that includes if the people are dating, blood-related or related by adoption.
Prior to 2016, before the law was changed, Gladish said in the event of domestic violence involving a same-sex couple, it could only be called a battery. Monroe County was one of the first counties in Indiana to make domestic battery arrests with same-sex couples.
Gladish then explained the cycle of violence, which is the pattern domestic violence usually follows. It begins with the tension phase, followed by the explosion phase and finishes with the honeymoon phase. The tension phase is when the tension rises, the explosion phase is when physical abuse happens and the honeymoon phase is when no other incidents are occurring.
“Abusers want to be in control of their partner 24/7,” Gladish said.
Some reasons a person may stay in an abusive relationship are financial insecurities and religious reasons, Gladish said.
“I can give the survivor as much information as I want, but I cannot make them make a decision,” Gladish said.
Gladish said when officers arrive at the scene of a domestic violence call, the officers have to be quick on their feet. Officers try not to park in front of the residence as well.
Once inside, officers identify every person in the home, remove weapons and take statements from the people there.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the 24/7 Help and Crisis Line for the Middle Way House, 812-336-0846.
