Article: When heroes become villains

March 27, 2010 09:42 pm

— The murder-suicide of Robin Miller and her husband, Sunbury Police Cpl. Michael Miller, is a shocking tragedy that has devastated friends, neighbors and community members. By all accounts given to reporters, Cpl. Miller was a well-thought-of police officer.
Things were apparently different at home. After he shot and killed his wife, then turned the gun on himself, investigators reported that the couple had a “tumultuous relationship.” Police Chief Steven Mazzeo said he was aware of the couple’s problems. The chief noted, though, that he had not been aware of physical violence between the Millers prior to their murder-suicide.
Researchers say the tragedy is reflective of the combustible combination of factors that too often damage or destroy the personal lives of those who don a badge and uniform and take an oath to serve and protect.
Police officers work in stressful conditions with long and unpredictable hours and emotionally-demanding circumstances. An oft-quoted study in Arizona found that 40 percent of police officers surveyed said they had been involved in incidents of domestic violence in their personal lives, compared to 25 percent of the general population.
When trouble arises in their personal lives, police officers can become particularly dangerous. They are trained in the use of deadly force, they know where women’s shelters are and they know the ins-and-outs of the legal system. A victim of domestic abuse may feel like there is no refuge if a call for help goes to the department that employs her attacker. Also, a complaint could cost the job of the police officer, adding another layer of stress to a family in crisis.
Nationally, law enforcement officers have struggled to come up with adequate policies and protocols to handle domestic violence involving police officers. These include psychological testing to weed out potential abusers before they are hired and on-going training, accompanied by access to counseling, once officers are on the force.
Police officers are rightfully accorded special authority and respect. They are, more often than not, everyday heroes. However, we hope that police departments across the region use the attention to the Miller case to examine whether they have adequate training and policies in place to handle domestic discord before it becomes domestic tragedy when it involves one of their own.