NYPD introduces new unit amid rise in domestic violence incidents

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The NYPD is introducing a new Domestic Violence Unit dedicated to enhancing case investigations and officer training. The announcement of the largest unit of its kind in the U.S. was made by Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch on Thursday amid Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The introduction of this unit comes as domestic violence incidents continue to rise across the country. According to a release by Adams’ office, since the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 40% of felony assaults in New York City are related to domestic violence.

This unit will consist of approximately 450 domestic violence investigators who will devote their full efforts to preventing and investigating domestic violence cases, all while developing firm relationships with survivors. The efforts from this unit will span all five boroughs with a full roll-out slated for the week of Oct. 19.

“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.”

The Domestic Violence Unit was developed using input gathered from internal and external focus groups, the current roster of officers assigned to domestic violence cases, survivors of domestic violence, and numerous outside agencies and organizations.

As part of this unit, domestic violence officers and detectives will be reassigned from the Patrol Services Bureau and Housing Bureau to the Detective Bureau, where they will see domestic violence investigations through from beginning to end. This effectively streamlines casework and benefits survivors with consistent support. Prior to the implementation of this unit, precinct and housing officers — as well as detectives from local precinct squads — were assigned to domestic violence cases, resulting in duplication of work, as noted by Adams’ office.

In developing training for the new unit, the NYPD coordinated with survivors and domestic violence organizations. Previously, officers often received single-day training in survivor interaction, child abuse, human trafficking and elder abuse investigations. In this new unit, the training consists of a mandatory two-day, in-person training and additional virtual sessions, in order to further develop investigative skills, peer support and interrogation techniques.

Two new roles are also being introduced by the NYPD in an effort to support training and best practices: domestic violence counsel and domestic violence director of prevention and intervention.

The counsels will be assigned to work with district attorneys across the city to meet the needs of survivors and develop strong cases and prosecutions. The directors will formalize and evolve training programs for officers who interact with both survivors and offenders.

The NYPD will also establish Domestic Violence Misdemeanor Investigation Card (“I-Card”) Teams. These teams, comprised of eight sergeants and 40 detectives and police officers, will have the mission of locating and apprehending domestic violence suspects.

The domestic violence unit will be overseen by Deputy Chief John Corbisiero, a 40-year veteran of the NYPD who has served as commanding officer of Brooklyn’s 90th Precinct, Narcotics Borough Queens South and the Chief of Department’s Domestic Violence Unit. He will report directly to Citywide Investigations, led by Assistant Chief Michael Baldassano under Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.

“Public safety is not limited to our streets and subways, it extends to our homes, too, where we have seen violence against women, domestic violence, and gender-based violence continue to cause pain. Domestic violence rips people’s lives apart, and we have a sacred duty to protect survivors of domestic and gender-based violence,” Adams said. “With the creation of the NYPD’s Domestic Violence Unit, we are going to make survivors feel safer in their homes. This new investigative unit will handle the entire domestic violence process for victims, which means more resources to help victims and more cops to bring abusers to justice. New Yorkers can rest assured knowing the full force of the law is coming after those who perpetrate these crimes.”

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