Friday the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and the South Georgia Judicial District Victim Services hosted an officer family violence training seminar for law enforcement.
Local officers from Bainbridge Public Safety and the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office were in attendance as well as officers from surrounding counties in Southwest Georgia. The training day featured information on responding to family violence, changes in family violence laws, family violence dynamics and local victim services.
A big topic of discussion was stalking and how to help victims.
Presenter Mike Mertz of C&M Consulting said that stalkers generally have a former relationship with their victims.
“Everyone who stalks has a mental disorder or a personality disorder. It’s not because they can’t get over you. It’s about getting back at the person,” Hertz said.