⟩ You are responding with another officer to a report of loud noises and the sounds of arguing coming from a house. Both officers arrive, check in with dispatch and approach the house. What are the next actions to take?
Look, listen and evaluate the scene.
Approach the door to the house, listen for further signs of a disturbance.
Step to the side of the door (officers have been shot through closed doors).
Knock firmly, identify yourself as a police officer and state that the door needs to be opened.
If sounds of a struggle-screaming, glass breaking, shouting-are heard a forced entry may be necessary to prevent injuries from occurring.
If the door is answered, establish whether anyone is injured and call for medical backup if needed.
Separate the involved parties, establish the mental state of each and check for weapons.
Start working the call to determine the nature of the dispute, the level of threat, etc. and if the situation can be resolved, or if an arrest needs to be made to keep the peace.
Domestic disputes are extremely unpredictable, often dangerous, calls. Weapons are often involved and either, or both, parties may be mentally disturbed, intoxicated or high-and always highly charged emotionally. Neighbors can also throw another dicey element into the mix.
Again, in this response, common sense dictates actions. Avoid a train wreck: stop, look and listen, then take your safety and the safety of all involved parties into account before you act.
