Domestic Violence Response Team

MEMBERS NEEDED:

The Holmdel Police Department is currently recruiting volunteers to serve on its Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT). In conjunction with 180 Turning Lives Around (180), and with the assistance of the response team volunteers, the Holmdel Police Department continues to make available this service to victims of domestic violence. Applications are available now and interviews will begin shortly.

The volunteer advocates with 180’s DVRT program are civilian members of the community who work in collaboration with the police to provide crisis intervention and safety planning to victims of domestic violence at police headquarters. The specially-trained advocates also discuss with the victim their legal rights in regard to obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order. The volunteer advocates help to empower victims to make decisions about their own lives. The identities of the DVRT volunteers are kept anonymous. The 40-hour intensive, mandatory training course will be provided to successful applicants at no cost. 180 will be conducting the four-week training October 18^th – November 10th, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, 6:00-9:30pm, in the Asbury Park Municipal Courtroom, 1 Municipal Plaza on Main Street in Asbury Park. Parking is on-site in the municipal lot. Prior knowledge of domestic violence is not required. The services of the Holmdel Police Domestic Violence Response Team are available to victims, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week at Holmdel Police Department Headquarters.

Basic requirements for volunteers to apply include that applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have access to transportation, possess a valid driver’s license, be willing to serve on an on-call shift basis, participate in an interview process, submit to background investigations and fingerprinting, and successfully complete the mandatory training. The Holmdel Police Department and 180-Turning Lives Around are committed to culturally diverse teams to better serve the community. Bi-lingual capability is helpful. To obtain an application or for additional information, please contact Sergeant Michael Pigott, DVRT, DVLO at 732-946-9690 ext. 1721.

For over 30 years, 180-Turning Lives Around has been dedicated to providing shelter, counseling, protection, support, prevention, education, and advocacy for residents of Monmouth County who are affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence, you can call the 180-Turning Lives Around Confidential Hotline at 732 264-4111, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. For more information, visit www.180nj.org. In an emergency, dial 911.

Click Here to Download Application

Domestic Violence Victims:

Help is available 24 hours a day. Contact the Holmdel Police Department at 732-946-4400 or 180’s Domestic Violence Hotline at 732-264-4111

Domestic Violence, It Is Your Business

In 2001, the Holmdel Township Police Department, in conjunction with 180 - Turning Lives Around, established the Holmdel Domestic Violence Response Team. Members cover individual shifts, allowing the Team to be on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These volunteers educate, inform, and emotionally assist victims immediately following a domestic violence incident. During 2006 the Holmdel Police Department responded to 104 domestic violence incidents.

Some questions prospective volunteers may have:

Q. I don’t know anything about being a domestic violence victim advocate, what will I say to the victim?

A. After filling out an application, and passing an interview process, training is provided by 180 and the Holmdel Police. You will be trained as an “victim advocate counselor” and will be taught exactly what needs to be done and said to victim’s of Domestic Violence.

Q. Do I need to stay at home near the phone when I am on call?

A. No. You will be issued a pager so you do not need to stay by the phone. When you are on-call we ask that you be able to respond to Police Headquarters within 20 minutes.

Q. How often will I be on call?

A. Currently, shifts are 12 hours long, which means there are 14 shifts per week. At the present time the DVRT has 14 members, so each member averages around 1 shift per week.

Q. What if I know the victim? Won’t they be embarrassed to speak with me?

A. When you are paged by Police Headquarters, you return the call. At this time, you may ask the name of the victim. If you know them and feel uncomfortable, you can ask to have another volunteer handle the call. However, since the team was established, this has happened infrequently, and when it has, the victim is usually happy to see someone they know and have never turned the advocate away.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of Holmdel’s Domestic Violence Response Team is asked to contact Patrolman Michael Pigott at 732-946-9690 ext 1733 or mpigott@holmdelpolice.org. An application can be e-mailed to you or sent through the mail.

Prospective Applicants Must:

Be 18 years or older.
Reside in, or work within, the area of Holmdel Township.
Possess a valid New Jersey Driver’s License and have available transportation.
Undergo a criminal history screening.