WARREN, Mich. – Warren police are closing a dangerous gap in domestic violence protection, and they say the results are already showing.
A new city ordinance, approved in October 2025, makes it a misdemeanor for offenders to violate no-contact orders.
The change means officers can act immediately when a violation occurs, rather than putting the burden on survivors to report it themselves and appear in court.
In the six months since the ordinance took effect, the city attorney’s office has authorized 27 charges under the ordinance, according to Warren police.
The update comes during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
Why the post-arrest window is so dangerous
Warren police say the period right after an arrest is one of the most dangerous times for a domestic violence survivor.
Offenders released on bond sometimes continue to contact or intimidate victims, even with a court order in place.
Before the ordinance passed, victims often had to report those violations themselves.
Now, officers can step in without waiting for the survivor to come forward.
Officer Bryce Moon, assigned to Warren’s Community Policing Unit, says the change gives police a new tool when they follow up with survivors.
“If they were arrested previously and given that no-contact order, now when we go back out there, we don’t have to walk away if there was no assault,” Moon said. “Now, it’s you can’t be here, and you have to leave, and you are leaving with us.”
Moon added that survivors are increasingly speaking up when violations happen.
“People are starting to feel comfortable letting us know and saying, ‘Hey, he did call me, even though he’s not supposed to. He called me from jail, or dropping by, or texting me,’” Moon said.
What the ordinance actually does
Warren City Ordinance 80-837, called the “Protective Order Violation” ordinance, establishes a misdemeanor offense for violating a court-ordered no-contact provision when the individual knew, or should have known, that contact was prohibited. Violators face up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine.
One of its most significant features: court proceedings can move forward without the victim present. That means survivors don’t have to relive traumatic events in court, and offenders have less opportunity to retaliate or intimidate.
Under the ordinance, a court may also impose up to two years of probation, with terms focused on continued protection of the victim.
The ordinance was developed through a collaboration between Mayor Lori M. Stone’s office, the city attorney, the Warren City Council, and advocacy organizations, including Turning Point.
‘A no-contact order is not a situation — it’s a mandate’
Lt. John Gajewski of the Warren Police Department says the ordinance’s intent is straightforward: take the pressure off the survivor.
“Make us be the ones who decide if the violation occurred, and make us be the ones who take someone to jail for violation,” Gajewski said. “A no-contact order is not a suggestion in Warren; it’s a mandate.”
Part of a broader effort: Operation Cycle Break
The ordinance builds on Warren’s “Operation Cycle Break,” a pilot program launched in May 2025 in partnership with Wayne State University.
The initiative uses rapid in-person follow-ups, mandatory offender counseling, and lethality assessments to intervene earlier and support survivors before abuse turns fatal.
Police say the ordinance is another layer of protection added to that framework, specifically targeting the critical window after an arrest when offenders are most likely to re-engage with survivors.
Local shelter says survivors are coming forward
Turning Point Macomb, a domestic violence shelter serving Macomb County, has been working closely with Warren and says the ordinance is already making a difference.
“We’ve seen a lot more survivors coming forward and getting the support that they need,” said Sara Ladensack, deputy director of Turning Point Macomb. “I think it will really have an impact for survivors and the folks that we work with.”
Ladensack and Warren Police hope other cities will adopt similar measures.
Warren police say they have already received requests from other communities asking for details about the program.