MIDDLETOWN – Middletown Police Department is currently recruiting volunteers to serve on the Middletown Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT).
In affiliation with 180 Turning Lives Around (180) and with the assistance of the response-team volunteers, the Middletown Police Department continues to make available this service to victims of domestic violence during the initial stages of a highly emotional and traumatic experience.
180 will be conducting an intensive 40-hour mandatory training course for response team volunteers from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from March 18 through April 10, at Manalapan Police Headquarters, 120 County Road 522. Applications are currently being accepted.
The volunteer advocates with 180’s DVRT Program are civilian members of the community who work collaboratively with law enforcement to provide support, information and referrals to victims of domestic violence at Middletown Police Headquarters. Advocates also discuss with victims safety planning and their legal rights in regard to obtaining a temporary restraining order. By providing empathy and crucial perspective of the situation, these highly trained advocates help to empower victims to make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
Basic requirements for volunteers to apply include that they must be 18 years of age or older, have access to reliable 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. Middletown Police Department and 180 are committed to a culturally diverse team to better serve the community, so bilingual capability is helpful. Prior knowledge of domestic violence is not required.
The identities of the DVRT volunteers are kept anonymous.
Those interested are asked to contact SFC William Colangelo, Middletown Police Department, at 732-615-2041 or wcolangelo@middletownnj.org to obtain an application or for additional information.
