An officer’s diligence and professionalism in investigating a serious assault put a halt to a rapidly escalating cycle of domestic violence, Oak Harbor Police Administrator Terry Gallagher said.
For her effort, Oak Harbor Police Officer Jenn Gravel was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Gallagher presented the award to Gravel during Wednesday night’s Oak Harbor Council meeting. He also gave Officer Nathan Padrta, the school resource officer, the Life-Saving Medal for his efforts in saving a man who collapsed at the high school in March.
While officers help people and solve crime everyday, Gallagher explained that Gravel’s work was exceptional given the difficulty in dealing with domestic violence situations. Her efforts, he said, “perhaps can only be appreciated by people with an advanced knowledge of the difficulties inherent in any effort to intervene in domestic violence.”
Gallagher explained that Gravel, an eight-year veteran of the force, responded to a call July 12 about an assault that occurred the day before.
She met with the victim and her mother, but found that the younger woman didn’t want to talk to police because she “was trapped in a classic cycle of abuse,” he said.
But Gravel persisted and gained the frightened woman’s trust, “partnering with her to find a solution to her very dangerous situation.”
“I just stayed calm and told her there was no rush,” Gravel explained in an interview. “I let her know, ‘You are not alone.’”
“I told her, ‘I don’t want you to be a headline,’” she added.
Gallagher said it was impressive that Gravel recognized that she was dealing with a strangulation victim, “something even the most experienced investigators often miss.” Strangulation, he said, is an indicator of the escalation of violence, is associated with increased risk of serious injury or death in domestic violence situations and is one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence.
Gravel noticed marks associated with strangulation on the woman’s neck and successfully encouraged her to go the hospital. She continued to check in on her at the hospital and even stayed in contact with her on her days off.
“What you did that morning and in the days that followed was an incredible piece of police work,” Gallagher said, “that perhaps can only be appreciated by people with an advanced knowledge of the difficulties inherent in any effort to intervene in a domestic situation.”
In addition, Gravel uncovered a pattern of abuse involving threats of murder, humiliation, violence and isolation, according to court documents. One of the most troubling things, she said, was that the suspect, Peter D. Dunphy, involved children in the abuse.
In her police report, she wrote that Dunphy presented a significant risk of committing a murder / suicide.
Gravel arrested Dunphy, who is 29 years old. Prosecutors charged him in Island County Superior Court with second-degree assault, interfering with reporting of domestic violence and felony harassment; all counts were charged as being domestic violence related.
Dunphy was originally held in jail on $300,000 bail. The judge revoked his bail altogether Monday after Dunphy violated court orders with third-party contact through phone calls from the jail.
Gallagher said he was first alerted to Gravel’s above-and-beyond police work in the case by the victim’s mother.
She told Gallagher that she was amazed that Gravel was able to convince her daughter that her fear was normal and to go to the hospital. She said the officer was “a rock.”
“She witnessed your understanding of her daughter’s plight and your compassion,” he said.
The victim and her parents attended the council meeting to support Gravel.
Afterward, Gravel said she, like most cops, don’t do the job for recognition or praise; her sergeant had to tell her she needed to go to and accept her award. It’s about the cases, she said.
