BETHLEHEM, Pa. – October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It\u2019s a time to mourn victims, celebrate survivors, and unite advocates to end violence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
69 News Reporter Sydney Kay gives us a look into the Bethlehem Police Department where officers are spreading awareness and learning to look out for signs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some officers with the Bethlehem Police Department started their Monday differently, they were inside a classroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The topic of discussion? A training program to support survivors of domestic abuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDomestic violence is, unfortunately, a large part of some of the issues that we deal with in the community,\u201d said Capt. William Audelo with the Bethlehem Police Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Teaming up with Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, officers across multiple sessions are learning how to deescalate situations, how to communicate better, and look out for signs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are talking a lot about the power and control dynamics that often occur in an abusive situation,\u201d said Panayiota Papadopoulos, a Training and Education Advocate with Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That control could be through finances or victims\u2019 locations being tracked, but this program focuses on initiating conversations and ensuring supportive responses to survivors.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelping them recognize that it\u2019s not as simple as asking, \u2018Why don’t you just leave?\u2019 Because it\u2019s not that easy,\u201d said Papadopoulos.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe might not know from a survivor\u2019s or victim\u2019s point of view that we\u2019re either doing wrong or that we could do better,\u201d said Capt. Audelo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t the first time for the program, but they say it\u2019s a good reminder and refresher on new resources available, especially during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking about how sometimes trauma can really impact how a survivor responds in a situation,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to happen outside of October, so we need to be prepared, we need to train. We need to be able to provide the best response that we can,\u201d added Capt. Audelo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nCopyright 2026 Maranatha Broadcasting Co., Inc.. All Rights Reserved.\n<\/p>\n
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