HPD Goes Back to School

WEST HARRISON - The Harrison Police Department has gone back to school, spending Thursday taking a class on domestic violence and domestic disputes.

The training was department-wide, making Harrison police the first department in the county to receive the training in conjunction with the new Westchester County Family Justice Center in White Plains, which opens on May 17.

"The overall goal is to provide the enhancement of safety to victims and to provide them with services," said Robert Passonno, the coordinator of the criminal justice training program.

The class lasted for about six hours and covered several aspects of domestic violence including spousal abuse, child abuse, elder abuse and pet abuse. The class is geared toward further educating officers on changing laws and updating them on new crimes created with new technology.

"This is just another step that the Harrison Police Department is taking to provide premier police service and better train our police officers to reach out to people in need," said Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini.

The class will also extend to the community, as officers will hand out literature to people about different types of domestic violence at various locations in town. Police will work in conjunction with the Department of Community Services to begin a community outreach program focusing on assisting victims of domestic violence and elder abuse. 

The department is also working to ensure that a confidential and supportive environment is available for victims reporting domestic abuse.

"We want to let the public know that we do other things besides police work, we are also here to help them with their problems," said Sgt. Robert Schanil, a training officer who helped organize the class.

Domestic violence complaints are one of the most dangerous calls that police respond to, said Schanil. New York City Police Officer and West Harrison resident Robert Salerno was just honored by the town last week after he was shot three times responding to a domestic disturbance in the Bronx earlier this year.

"We're dealing with emotions, we are dealing with unpredictability," said Passonno. "They are frustrating calls for law enforcement, very difficult calls."

The officers were open to the class and very professional, said Passonno. He estimates that the class crammed about six months of material into six hours.

"We have an awful lot of stuff, but they've been really hanging in there and doing just terrific work," he said. "The guys have been terrific, they really have."

Although other departments have taken part in this type of training, it is rare to see an entire department required to take a class. This impressed Passonno who has worked in several other communities.

"That's a terrific commitment by the chief, to commit all of his officers to this training," he said. "It shows his dedication to this issue."