The Westchester County Office for Women recently hosted its 23rd Annual Police Interactive Training Conference, an event held in October as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The conference aimed to equip police officers and community partners with best practices for responding to domestic violence incidents and ensuring the safety of victims.
More than 300 participants attended, including members from the Westchester County Department of Probation, various community partner agencies, service providers, and representatives from 34 police departments across the county.
The program included a keynote address titled “Leading with Courage and Compassion: The Guardian-Warrior Path in Policing,” delivered by retired New York State Police Senior Investigator Matthew Stegner. He discussed his experiences prioritizing domestic violence cases and highlighted the importance for officers to balance protective roles with compassionate support when working with victims. Attendees also received updates from the County’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT), heard a survivor’s testimony, reviewed changes to New York State laws, and listened to a report on how gun safety intersects with domestic violence.
Several awards were presented during the event. A survivor and volunteer advocate received the Blue Bird Survivor Leadership award. Assistant District Attorney Joyce Miller was honored with the James Cannon award for excellence in her field. Robi Schlaff, Director of the Office for Women, received the DVHRT Leadership Award.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins stated: “The Police Interactive Training Conference is where you see first-hand the incredible results of bringing together the right stakeholders to assist domestic violence survivors. Building bridges between law enforcement and community providers is essential to making inroads into this dangerous issue. This is why other counties and communities are reaching out to replicate our outstanding model. Westchester County stands committed to investing in domestic violence prevention efforts.”
Rocco Pozzi, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Probation, said: “Domestic violence impacts individuals across all ages, genders, and backgrounds, leaving lasting effects on families and communities. The 23rd Annual Police Interactive Training Conference serves as a powerful platform to showcase Westchester County’s unified and coordinated response to domestic violence. This annual event underscores the County’s unwavering commitment to prevention, survivor protection, and offender accountability—highlighting the strength of cross-agency collaboration in creating safer communities for all.”
Robi Schlaff added: “Westchester County continues to be the model for DV response. The training, the presentations by the keynote and other speakers and the survivors who had the courage to share their stories inspired those who attended the training and strengthens the collaborations that exist through all participating disciplines.”
David M. Ryan, Director of Westchester County DVHRT said: “This 23rd Annual Police Interactive Conference demonstrates the commitment by the leadership in Westchester County to support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and intimate partner violence. By providing an umbrella of resources from all disciplines working in a coordinated and collaborative response, we are able to support victims, allow them to feel safe and begin healing while also holding offenders accountable.”
Robert Spink from Yonkers Police Department commented: “Attending the 23rd Annual Police Conference is an essential step in ensuring our teams are equipped with the most current, trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches. While discussions around law updates and case reviews are crucial, hearing a survivor’s story powerfully underscores the real-world impact of our work. This conference is a powerful reminder that our dedication to continuous learning is the foundation of effective public safety.”
Additional information about presentations or resources can be found at women.westchestergov.com/police-training/police-2025
