Senator Fuschillo Secures State Funding for Amityville & Freeport Police Departments to Provide Enhanced Domestic Violence Training to Officers

     Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) announced that he has secured state funding for the Amityville and Freeport Police Departments to provide enhanced domestic violence training to their officers.

     “Domestic violence affects families all across Long Island. It’s a serious crime which can leave both physical and emotional scars on its victims. Through this funding, the Amityville and Freeport Police Departments will be able to provide their officers with enhanced training dealing specifically with domestic violence, so that they can better protect victims and put domestic abusers behind bars,” said Senator Fuschillo.

     The combined $50,000 in state funding secured by Senator Fuschillo will be used by the Departments to provide domestic violence training to their officers and develop training curriculum that is specifically designed to meet the needs of their respective areas.

     Amityville Mayor Peter Imbert said “Amityville Village, like communities everywhere, has seen its share of domestic violence. Responding to these calls can be very challenging even for a seasoned police officer. We welcome the additional training our police will receive through this grant and thank the Senator for recognizing this and leading the charge to enable our officers to make the best of a bad situation through specialized educational sessions.”

     Amityille Police Chief Donald Dobby, Jr. said “As police officers, we see the fallout from domestic violence and impact on its victims all too often. Our officers respond to over 100 domestic violence calls every year. Enhancing domestic violence training for our officers will help ensure that they possess the necessary knowledge that can help mitigate a domestic violence incident and protect residents from harm. The Amityville Police Department and its residents are fortunate to have Senator Fuschillo, a representative who is watching out for the victims.”

     Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick said, “I am truly grateful to Senator Fuschillo for his efforts in this area. The grant funding that has been secured will allow our police officers to enhance their ability to serve our community. Training is an important part of a public servant’s career, and it is imperative that we consistently be at the forefront of any new procedures or domestic violence trends. On behalf of the residents of Freeport, I express a most sincere thank you to Senator Fuschillo. We are grateful to receive these funds to further support our police department’s commitment to ensure public safety.”

     Freeport Police Chief Miguel Bermudez said “The Freeport Police Department is appreciative of Senator Fuschillo's efforts in securing funding to enhance and develop our Department's training to better serve our community and the victims of domestic violence.”

     Domestic Violence is far too prevalent a problem in our society. One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Domestic Violence can also have a serious impact on children who witness abuse. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence states that witnessing violence between one’s parents or caretakers is the strongest risk factor of transmitting violent behavior from one generation to the next.

####