REGION Police have guidelines for domestic violence

Local cops have policies that mirror Ohio, Pennsylvania and federal laws.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- State and federal guidelines dictated how city police were to handle menacing and harassment complaints similar to those filed by a 21-year-old Wood Street woman against her ex-boyfriend.
When Niles police received two separate calls earlier this week from Erica Mechling, who reported her 43-year-old ex-boyfriend James Fambro-Wade was threatening her life, officers were sent to take an official report and in each case advised she contact the city prosecutor's office to file charges.
Each time officers responded, Fambro-Wade was not in the area, police records show. The first aggravated report was filed Monday evening, when Mechling said Fambro-Wade showed up at her workplace and threatened her and her current boyfriend.
A second menacing complaint was filed shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, after Mechling said Fambro-Wade called her at home and again threatened her life.
Within an hour of that call, Mechling was dead and Fambro-Wade was shot by police and later died of his injuries.
Police departments in Ohio and Pennsylvania have state and federal guidelines when it comes to handling domestic violence, harassment and menacing complaints, local officials said.
"Generally, all departments have pretty much the same policy," said Jeffrey Patterson, Boardman police chief. "The standards are set by state law, and every police department has to follow that."
In Mahoning County, he noted, most departments worked together to develop a countywide policy for handling domestic violence calls.
Lt. Robin Lees, spokesman for the Youngstown Police Department, also referred to the countywide policy, and said most police departments in the state have relatively consistent policies that follow the Ohio Revised Code.
In Pennsylvania, police departments usually develop a domestic violence policy that mirrors the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, explained Sharon police Capt. Mike Menster.
But, he noted, each call is handled differently, depending on circumstances.
"These incidents are all different," he said. "We look at them on a case-by-case basis."
Options
Lt. Don Beeson of the Salem Police Department said unless there are physical signs of violence or other indicators that a crime took place, those filing harassment of menacing complaints are often given options on what steps they can take.
"In cases like that, we tell them if they want to they can file charges. They need to go down to the police department or see the prosecutor," he said.
Niles police Capt. Charles Wilson said police can take reports in cases where threats have been made, but often the next step needs to be taken by the person filing the report.
When threats are made, he said, filing a police report can start a paper trail for law enforcement and court officials to follow.
"When there's just phone calls and harassment, without seeing it occur, there's nothing we can do," he said.
But if any officers see signs of injury, they are authorized to make an arrest, he added.