Long criticized for their way of intervening when they receive complaints of domestic violence, the police are trying to restore their image and inspire confidence in victims. New teams specializing in domestic violence have been developed in all police forces in Quebec and training has been developed to better detect the risk of homicide. Results that give good results, according to a victim and a duo of police officers from Terrebonne.
Cassandra (fictitious name) lived with domestic violence for 12 years. “If you knew how many times I thought about filing a complaint, without ever doing so for fear that it would be worse afterwards”, says the woman, during a press conference organized by the Association of Directors of Police of Quebec (ADPQ).
Last February, following an event whose details she prefers to keep silent, she finally “dared” to file a complaint. “I was really scared for my life and for my son’s life,” she explains.
In front of the cameras, Cassandra told how she was well received and supported in her efforts by two Terrebonne police officers, officers Joëlle Laparé and Martine Milton, from the new team specializing in domestic violence. “They welcomed me without judgment and without prejudice and took all the time necessary to give my statement. I left this first meeting reassured, supported and with plenty of resources and emergency phone numbers. »
The police called her regularly for news and came to her home to help her secure the premises. And when she decided to go to trial, the police officers made “the bridge” between them, the prosecutor and the CAVAC. “I finally see the light at the end of this horrible ordeal, she testifies, her voice filled with emotion. These two dedicated and invested police officers will have changed my life forever. »
Turning to the two police officers, who were also moved, Cassandra shared her love with them before taking them in turn in her arms, to the applause of some fifteen police colleagues and as many representatives of community violence resources. marital.
The victims in the foreground
Cassandra’s testimony contrasts with those that have come out in the media in recent years. On several occasions, women said they were not taken seriously when they filed a complaint of domestic violence. The police were facing a real crisis of confidence and a commission, entitled “rebuilding trust” was created in 2020 to remedy this.
This has given rise to numerous initiatives, including the creation of teams specializing in domestic violence and a paradigm shift in the way of intervening. “We were perhaps very focused on the arrest of the aggressor, and there, we bring that back and we focus on the victim, explains the director of the Terrebonne police department, Marc Brisson. We intervene with the victim, we supervise him and we make sure to be with him until the end of the intervention chain. »
According to the ADPQ, police officers in Quebec carry out approximately 20,000 interventions related to domestic violence each year.
Save lives
On the ground, officers Martine Miller and Joëlle Laparé see themselves as an “anchor point” for the victims. They carry out regular follow-ups, which in particular allows them to intervene more quickly if the aggressors break their release conditions. They can also see the evolution of the situation. Thus, they believe that their interventions have possibly “saved three lives” over the past year. In fact, in three cases, the follow-ups revealed a “dramatic worsening” of the situation, to the point where the files were classified in the high homicide risk category, which made it possible to initiate specific measures. “The priority is the safety of the victim first and foremost,” says Cst Miller.
Marc Brisson, of the Terrebonne Police Department, agrees and invites victims to follow Cassandra’s example. “It may seem like an important step for you, but it’s an important step for all victims of domestic violence in Quebec,” he said, speaking directly to the victim. Coming to tell your story is much more than telling a story. It is giving permission and the courage to other victims to denounce. And it is to tell them that they are not alone, that they deserve better and that there is a way out. »
At the Association of Homes for Women Victims of Domestic Violence, we are delighted to see these changes. “We have long claimed that there are teams dedicated to domestic violence in the police services,” said Louise Riendeau, who attended the presentation of the Association of Quebec Police Directors on Wednesday. Over the past year, it’s been in place and for us, it’s important, because the police are often the first responders and the rest of a woman’s journey will often depend on the welcome she receives. »