There are many personal and professional reasons for not wanting the department to know what's going on in your personal life. You know that reporting your abuse to the department will have serious repercussions, personally and professionally — for both of you.
Some departments have policies requiring that personnel must report knowledge of officer domestic abuse incidents. If you don't report the abuse, you risk that your abuser or someone else could report it. Depending on policy, you could be disciplined for not reporting your own victimization.
You have to face the same questions that cvilian victims face:
Once you go to the department, the matter may be out of your hands.
If your allegations are credible and serious enough, the chief may order an internal investigation. Unlike civilian victims, you must cooperate with the investigators.
During the investigation, you may face:
Ironically, forcing you to divulge certain information can actually help shield the abuser from prosecution. If the investigator elicits information from you about a serious incident, and then orders the abuser to answer questions regarding the incident, his compelled statement is protected under the Garrity rule (Garrity v. N.J., 385 U.S., 493, 1967.)
Any one of these outcomes may put you at risk. You may need to implement your safety plan. Discussing your plans with a domestic violence counselor or an attorney may help you to determine if going to the chief is a good strategy. Remember that though others may assist you, ultimately you are the only one who can make decisions regarding your security.
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Crossing the Threshold: Female Officers and Police-Perpetrated Domestic Violence
