Denver Police Try To Stop Domestic Violence Before It Happens

DENVER, CO – As part of a pilot program in Denver, more than 150 possible offenders in were given a list of resources instead of a ticket for disturbances that didn't escalate into a crime, the Denver Police Department announced Tuesday.

A new focus on de-escalating domestic violence calls is part of Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen's long-range strategic plan that "looks at the 'why' crime may be occurring and addressing social harms surrounding it," the department said in a press release.

This new plan is in partnership with the Denver District Attorney’s Office, Denver City Attorney’s Office, the Rose Andom Center, and other victim advocates and partners, the department said.

“The Denver Police Department has zero tolerance for domestic violence, and the best approach to ending the cycle is to prevent it from starting,” said Chief Pazen in a statement. “The Denver Police Department is taking a proactive approach to inform possible offenders that there are resources for them – with the goal of derailing paths towards violence, while educating victims of their choices.”

Starting last November, District Three patrol officers began "handing out letters when responding to calls that did not have a criminal component, but could benefit from the additional resources," the department said. The letters are in both English and Spanish.

When officers respond to a call for service, and find no crime, but that "the situation may have the potential to escalate to violence, such as a verbal altercation," they have provided the information.

The program handed out 150 letters in Distirct Three and will now expand throughout the department, DPD said.

READ the letters and resource guides handed out here:

Image via Shutterstock

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