WARREN, Mich. – The Warren Police Department unveiled a new initiative called Operation Cycle Break, targeting domestic violence through a comprehensive approach that combines swift justice with victim support and offender rehabilitation.
Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins emphasized the program’s urgency, noting that his department has received over 9,100 domestic disturbance calls in the past two years.
“A clear majority of major cases in our city have a domestic violence nexus, including many of our homicides,” said Hawkins.
Operation Cycle Break focuses on keeping victims safe and secure. It also includes set court dates to facilitate easier collaboration among police, victim advocates, and the courts, leading to quicker case resolutions.
This program doesn’t just seek to punish offenders; it also provides them with resources to help break the cycle of abuse. This support is provided at the outset of the judicial process.
“Counseling in conjunction with a domestic violence guilty plea or finding of guilt is not unusual. That happens all the time, but what’s different is we’re requiring defendants to get this counseling right up front, at the arraignment date, which is at the very start of this case, and they won’t have any choice,” said Chief Judge John Chmura of the 37th District Court.
The program, which took effect recently, is already showing promise. Within the first 30 days, there has been a 33% increase in warrant authorizations for domestic incidents compared to the same period last year, according to the Warren Police Department.
Operation Cycle Break was developed in collaboration with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, 37th District Court, Turning Point Macomb, and Wayne State University.
“We are sending a clear message: domestic violence will not be tolerated in Warren, and survivors will never have to navigate this journey alone,” said Sharman Davenport, President and CEO of Turning Point, Inc.