EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of two stories about High-Risk-Teams. Today’s story focuses on law enforcement; the first story shared comments from the Family Crisis Center and a Pawnee County paramedic.

When a domestic-violence victim answers the questions on a lethality assessment, it oftentimes “opens their eyes because they realize they really are in a bad situation,” said TJ Hearn, Larned interim police chief.

The chief, along with Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office Det. Jacob Robison, are part of their local High-Risk Team (HRT), which offers the lethality assessment to victims to determine the risk of escalating violence.

The first three questions are especially important to the assessment.

• Has this person ever used a weapon against you or threatened you with a weapon?
• Has this person ever threatened to kill you or your children?
• Do you think this person might try to kill you?

“It has certainly helped more victims recognize they might be in a dangerous situation when they start checking ‘yes’ boxes next to the yes/no questions,” Hearn said. “This is a big part of why having an HRT is especially important. It starts with

determining the risks and then calling on the Family Crisis Center. We know what is expected.”

Contact with the FCC begins at the scene when a law-enforcement officer makes the initial call, requesting an advocate. Then the phone is handed to the victim.

Jacob Robison

During the early conversations about forming an HRT, organizers wondered what it would cost.

“We thought access to the lethality assessment and special training might be expensive,” Robison recalled. “But then we learned the Family Crisis Center found a free resource.”

The FCC had discovered a lethality assessment that was created in Johnson County; the Kansas Attorney General’s Office provided the training.

Even with the financial concerns eliminated, there were still a lot of moving parts in coordinating with other first responders, as well as the county attorney and Central Kansas Department of Corrections.

Nevertheless, HRT members kept their main goals in the front of their minds. “We want to identify these high-risk situations and get the victim to safety,” Robison emphasized.

Pawnee County has been using the lethality assessment for about seven months, with no repeat calls from victims. “This is why we want people to report these incidents to us; maybe we can prevent more serious situations.”

Hearn and Robison “strongly encourage” first responders in other jurisdictions to consider forming an HRT. It should be a statewide requirement and a topic at the Police Academy, they commented.

“We can tell other first responders they will have better investigations because they will have more information,” Robison noted. “We will share our story with anyone who is interested.”

Steve Haulmark

One police chief that is already showing interest is Steve Haulmark in Great Bend.

“We are in the exploratory stages but we absolutely support the overarching objective, which is to improve victim safety,” Haulmark said. “If we move forward, we want to build a program that is sustainable, evidence-based and tailored to the needs of Great Bend and Barton County.”

Haulmark indicated he would seek advice from Hearn and Robison. “We do not need to reinvent the wheel. I welcome the opportunity to learn from them. I respect these individuals’ quality of work.”

The chief also noted other reasons he is attracted to learning more about an HRT.

“Domestic-violence incidents are among the most dangerous for both victims and officers. Our goal is to not simply respond but to prevent further violence. Any opportunity to improve victim safety is worth exploring. The HRT concept is interesting because it emphasizes collaboration and proactive intervention.”