having a relationship with cops can be much worse than encountering them in their official capacities;

 The average rate of families who experience domestic violence in the country is around 10 percent. When we look at police officers' families, however, that number quadruples. 

As the National Center for Women and Policing points out, two studies have found that at least 40% of police officer families experience domestic violence.

The most recent data on the matter shows that Officer-Involved Domestic Violence or OIDV, is a major problem.

Individuals who are the victims of domestic violence at the hands of police officer-batterers are often in a unique and particularly vulnerable situation. Unlike most victims of domestic violence, where the success of protective efforts depends on the cooperation of law enforcement, those subject to officer-involved domestic violence (OIDV) may, for a variety of reasons, be unable to secure the assistance they seek. This is particularly troublesome in light of increased rates of domestic violence in police officer families.

Even more startling than the fact that 40% of police officer families experiencing domestic violence is the fact that this number is likely far higher as it is estimated that much of it goes unreported.

According to Leigh Goodmark, author of Hands Up at Home: Militarized Masculinity and Police Officers Who Commit Intimate Partner,........more........