The New York City Police Department on Thursday launched the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU), which will operate in all five boroughs starting next week.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said the new unit will have approximately 450 domestic violence investigators who will be fully dedicated to the prevention and investigation of domestic violence cases. These officers will be reassigned from the Patrol Services Bureau and Housing Bureau to the Detective Bureau, where they will lead domestic violence investigations from beginning to end.
Previously, precinct and housing officers — as well as detectives from local precinct squads — were designated to work on domestic violence cases, resulting in duplication of work at multiple points.
"Domestic violence rips people's lives apart, and we have a sacred duty to protect survivors of domestic and gender-based violence,” Adams said in a statement.
The NYPD is taking a forward-looking approach to addressing domestic violence issues, as nearly 40% of felony assaults in the city are related to domestic violence since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to city officials.
In coordination with survivors and domestic violence organizations, the NYPD enhanced training for all officers in the new investigative unit. Previously, officers received training in survivor interaction, child abuse, human trafficking and elder abuse investigations, often condensed into a single-day session. Now, the training will be expanded to a mandatory two-day, in-person training, as well as additional virtual sessions, so they can formally learn to advance investigative skills, peer support and interrogation techniques.
To assist with apprehensions, the NYPD will also establish Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Investigation Card (“I-Card”) Teams — comprised of eight sergeants and 40 detectives and police officers — to locate and apprehend suspects wanted for domestic violence offenses. This tactic acknowledges the complex dynamics of domestic violence incidents and gets help for persons doing harm, while keeping survivors and families safe, according to city officials.
“For the first time in more than 30 years, the NYPD is making fundamental changes to how we respond to, investigate, and follow-through on domestic violence cases,” said Tisch. “Domestic violence is as devastating as it is pervasive, and these complex cases require specialized training, skills, and investigators who will approach them with the care and compassion they demand. This is a survivor-centric, trauma-informed approach that is focused on survivor safety, taking violent predators out of our communities, and preventing the next incident before it’s too late.”
