Police, Truth and Trauma: Reality of Investigations of Violence

David W. Markel Retired Police DetecticePhoto byLaw Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast

West Palm Beach, Fl - In the US, someone is assaulted every 98 seconds. Over one-third of women have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. The majority of rape and assault victims are women (91%), with the remaining 9% being men. Women are more likely to be assaulted by someone they know than by a stranger.

The emotional scars of rape often persist long after the assault:

30% of women report PTSD symptoms nine months after being raped.

33% contemplate suicide.

13% attempt suicide.

Vulnerability by Age

Ages 12-34 are at the highest risk for rape and assault.

Those aged 65 and older are significantly less likely to be victims.

Millions of American women have experienced rape, with young women at particular risk. As of 1998, an estimated 17.7 million American women had been victims of attempted or completed rape. Among juvenile victims, 82% are female, and 90% of adult rape victims are female. Women aged 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims, and college students aged 18-24 are three times more likely to experience sexual violence than their non-college peers.

Our guest, David W. Markel, is a retired criminal justice professional with 35 years of experience dedicated to justice for victims of crime. His expertise spans sexual assault, interpersonal violence investigation, and Title IX training. Dave began his career as a patrol officer at the Lafayette, Colorado, Police Department, later becoming an Investigator for 15 years. In this role, he helped establish training programs and coordinated responses for assault, child abuse, and domestic violence cases. After retiring from the police in 2001, he launched an independent training and consulting business, training law enforcement, victim advocacy organizations, child protective services, and mental health practitioners nationwide.

The interview reveals Police, Truth, and Trauma: Scars and Protecting Victims is a compelling interview available as a free podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, our website, and most major podcast platforms.

David W. Markel shares an insider’s perspective on investigating these crimes against adults and children. He discusses understanding the complexities of surviving and healing. This podcast is not just for those directly affected; it's an educational resource on trauma-informed interviewing, the neuroscience of trauma and memory, recognizing the psychophysiological responses of interpersonal trauma, and developing effective healing strategies. By discussing experiences and spreading information, the podcast aims to bring justice to victims and survivors, emphasizing the importance of sharing stories and knowledge.

Dave was also hired by the US Army Criminal Investigative Command (CID) as a Highly Qualified Expert to manage and present the Army’s sexual assault investigation training at the Military Police School at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. He currently offers investigative training and consulting through Markel Consulting, LLC, leveraging his extensive experience in criminal investigation and training.

Dave hosts a podcast, where you can learn more about protecting and supporting victims of assault, understanding the impact on both adults and children, and developing effective strategies for justice and healing.

You can listen to conversations on law enforcement subjects and navigate the complexities of trauma recovery through the nationally syndicated law enforcement talk radio show's enriching and free podcast series.

Attributions

NOW-NYC

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