In Washington, DC, a collaborative effort is underway to address the rise in domestic violence. The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office hosted a "Cops and Clergy" gathering in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and local clergy to launch a new domestic violence initiative. The event, held at the Church's office, brought together law enforcement, faith leaders, and community organizations to discuss strategies for identifying and assisting survivors of domestic violence.
The initiative aligns with Washington DC's "kNOw DV" (Know Domestic Violence) campaign, a districtwide priority rolled out by the mayor. The campaign combines awareness training to "Know DV" so steps can be taken to handle it, leading to "No DV." The event featured introductory remarks from MPD Interim Chief of Police Jeffery W. Carroll, who outlined the urgency and importance of addressing domestic violence.
The program included presentations from Officer Randy Rogers, MPD Third District Cops and Clergy Liaison Officer; a DC pastor sharing his personal story; a statistician from the DC Sentencing Commission; the director of the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants; and the president of The Magi Group. Each presenter addressed various facets of the issue and emphasized the importance of attending special training seminars and workshops geared to help clergy spot early indicators of domestic violence and refer those affected to the many resources in the city.
The evening concluded with short presentations from resource vendors, including Court Services and Offenders Supervision Agency (CSOSA); DC Sentencing Commission; Foundation for a Drug-Free World; Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse; The Magi Group, LLC; My Sister's Place DC; Victim Services Branch; Volare DC; Volunteer Legal Advocates; and the Church of Scientology. Attendees were invited for coffee and dessert and to visit resource tables to learn more about specifics and how these tools can be of help.
Rev. Susan Taylor, Public Affairs Director, Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, said, "Our office was honored to host Chief Carroll and his team and assist in the launching of the Cops and Clergy domestic violence initiative. We were excited to see many faith leaders reaching out and scheduling workshops. With all of us working together using the tools we have, we will make a difference to help address domestic violence. We look forward to our continued partnership with the police, agencies and faith leaders."
The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office represents the church in the nation's capital and works with many organizations to improve human rights, criminal justice reform, drug prevention education and religious freedom domestically and internationally. For more information about the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, visit https://www.scientology.org. For details on the DC Metropolitan Police Department's Victim Services Branch, visit https://mpdc.dc.gov.
This initiative matters because domestic violence remains a pervasive issue, and the collaboration between clergy and police aims to create a network of support for survivors. By training faith leaders to recognize signs of abuse and connect individuals with resources, the program seeks to reduce incidents and provide hope. The involvement of multiple agencies and community groups underscores the comprehensive approach needed to tackle this complex problem. As the "kNOw DV" campaign gains momentum, it could serve as a model for other cities looking to address domestic violence through community partnerships.
