Washington, DC — The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office hosted a gathering of the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), clergy, and community organizations on September 10, 2026, to launch a new domestic violence initiative. The event, held in partnership with the Third Police District's longstanding "Cops and Clergy" program and the MPD's Victim Services Branch, Criminal Investigations Division, aimed to address the rise in domestic violence in the nation's capital.
Reducing domestic violence (DV) is a districtwide top priority, and the mayor is rolling out Washington DC's "kNOw DV" (Know Domestic Violence) campaign. This combines awareness training to "Know DV" so steps can be taken to handle it, leading to "No DV." The initiative emphasizes a whole-village approach, bringing together law enforcement, faith leaders, and social service agencies to provide resources and training to identify indicators and help survivors.
The event featured introductory remarks from MPD Interim Chief of Police Jeffery W. Carroll, who outlined the urgency and importance of addressing domestic violence. Presentations followed from Officer Randy Rogers, MPD Third District Cops and Clergy Liaison Officer; a DC pastor who shared his personal story; a statistician from the DC Sentencing Commission; the director of the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants; and the president of The Magi Group. Each speaker addressed various facets of the issue and stressed the importance of attending special training seminars and workshops geared to help clergy spot early indicators of domestic violence and refer those affected to the many resources in the city.
The program concluded with short presentations from resource vendors, including Court Services and Offenders Supervision Agency (CSOSA); DC Sentencing Commission; Foundation for a Drug-Free World; Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse; The Magi Group, LLC; My Sister's Place DC; Victim Services Branch; Volare DC; Volunteer Legal Advocates; and the Church of Scientology. Attendees were invited for coffee and dessert and to visit resource tables to learn more about specifics and how these tools can be of help.
Rev. Susan Taylor, Public Affairs Director, Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, said, "Our office was honored to host Chief Carroll and his team and assist in the launching of the Cops and Clergy domestic violence initiative. We were excited to see many faith leaders reaching out and scheduling workshops. With all of us working together using the tools we have, we will make a difference to help address domestic violence. We look forward to our continued partnership with the police, agencies and faith leaders."
The message throughout the event, to "kNOw DV" (Know Domestic Violence), stressed the urgency and importance of training and collaboration between clergy, police, agencies, and all citizens to use available resources to help those affected by domestic violence. The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office represents the church in the nation's capital and works with many organizations to improve human rights, criminal justice reform, drug prevention education, and religious freedom domestically and internationally. For more information on the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, visit https://www.scientology.org.
This initiative matters because domestic violence remains a pervasive issue, and the collaboration between law enforcement and faith communities aims to create a coordinated response that can save lives. By equipping clergy with the tools to recognize early warning signs and connect survivors with resources, the "kNOw DV" campaign seeks to foster a safer community for all residents. The involvement of multiple agencies underscores the complexity of the problem and the need for a unified approach to prevention and support.
