Police Calls for Domestic Threats

In response to “Police Can’t Prevent Domestic Killing,” Op-Ed Page, Oct. 4:

It was interesting to read the opinion of Susan Yocum, an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department Van Nuys Division, on why it’s naive and deadly to expect a response to most threats. The 911 emergency system was established to respond to just such threats as Yocum described. Maria Navarro believed in her own mind that her life was in jeopardy and reached out for help. Apparently, Navarro did not understand that some police officers think that they have seen it all and just want to shine off some poor whining female who thinks that a threat against her life is as important as maybe a police officer stumbling into a robbery in progress that will get great press coverage.

I agree with Yocum that domestic violence training for police officers has been improved, but it was incidents like that of Maria Navarro that were the reason why police departments were forced to institute domestic violence training. The job of a police officer is to protect and serve the public, not to become critics on how the rest of the criminal justice system is failing to do its job.

We do need more police officers and more jail space, but using that as an excuse for not responding to a cry for help is a cop-out.

Yocum is absolutely right that in Navarro’s case, had the police been on the scene to stop her husband they would have probably taken him into custody for carrying a concealed weapon and he might have made bail. In that case the police would have been a deterrent to Maria’s killer. His weapon would have been confiscated and he would have had time to think about his irrational behavior. Would that have guaranteed that the estranged husband would not have carried out his threat in the future? There are no guarantees, but at least we could say that something was done to try to prevent spousal abuse. The police can only do what is reasonable and legal, but the public relies on them for their safety.

Again, I agree with Yocum that Navarro was a victim. She wanted to believe that a police officer would be dispatched, did not listen to the explanation of a dispatcher of why she would not be helped, and chose to remain in her own home. Using the officer’s rationale she should have fled, because the police have other priorities. Sadly, but relying only on Yocum’s statements, I must admit that looking to the police to prevent domestic violence is both naive and deadly; however, a police car a day may keep the coroner away.

JOHN J. JANSON JR.

Huntington Beach