DELAWARE STATE POLICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT
Sergeant Randy Fisher
The Delaware State Police Domestic Violence Unit was established in December 1996. The Domestic Violence Unit members are staffed at each of the three criminal investigation troops. Sergeant John Maher is in charge of the unit at Troop 2, Sergeant Michael Cosgrove at Troop 3, and Sergeant Daniel Sponaugle at Troop 4.
The units are under the direction of the Domestic Violence Policy/Training Coordinator, Sergeant Randy Fisher, who is assigned to Headquarters. The criminal investigation unit administrators supervise daily investigative functions and personnel issues for unit members at their troops. Unit members are available 24 hours a day to respond to critical or complicated cases.
The primary objective of the unit is to review domestic incidents investigated by patrol officers to identify relationships at risk. The unit investigates serious domestic violence cases, conducts follow-up investigations, makes appropriate referrals to advocates, and promotes victim awareness of domestic violence.
The Domestic Violence Unit Coordinator collaborates with the Victim Services Unit, the Attorney General's Office, the Delaware Division of Probation and Parole, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and other advocacy groups to ensure the safety of all involved and hold the offender accountable. The coordinator is also responsible for instructing recruits, providing in-service training on domestic violence, and developing policy to ensure victim safety. Unit members also serve on multi-disciplinary committees to address issues of domestic violence fatalities, legislation, training, and child protection.
In 2007, the Domestic Violence Unit was awarded a federal grant to train law enforcement officers both in state and out of state. In December two one day trainings were attended by over 160 law enforcement officers on the topic of self defense/predominant aggressor and agency collaboration. Four officers also attended national training in Florida on the topic of domestic violence.
The Domestic Violence Unit along with the Victim Services Unit held the Fourth Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Motorcycle Ride on May 5, 2007. Over 200 riders participated in the event.
During 2007, the Domestic Violence Unit received over 10,000
combined cases of criminal and non-criminal domestic incidents
statewide for review, follow-up and referral.
