Aberdeen Township Police Department is currently recruiting volunteers to serve on the Northern Regional Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT).

In affiliation with 180 Turning Lives Around (180), and with the assistance of the response team volunteers, the Aberdeen Township Police Department continues to make available this service to victims of domestic violence during the initial stages of a highly emotional and traumatic experience.

Applications for volunteers are currently being accepted. The 40-hour intensive, mandatory training course will be provided to successful applicants at no cost. 180 will be conducting the four-week training course from April 22 - May 16 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the courtroom at Hazlet Township Police Headquarters at 255 Middle Road.

The volunteer advocates with 180’s DVRT program are civilian members of the community who workin collaboration with the police to provide support, information and referrals to victims of domesticviolence at police headquarters. The specially-trained advocates also discuss with the victims safety planning and their legal rights in regard to obtaining a Temporary Restraining Order.

By providing empathy and crucial perspective of the situation, advocates help to empower victims to make informeddecisions about their own lives. The identities of the DVRT volunteers are kept anonymous. Prior knowledge of domestic violence is not required. The services of the Northern Regional Domestic Violence Response Team are available to victims 24-hours a day, 7-days a week at the Aberdeen Township Police Headquarters.

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, have access to transportation, possess a valid driver’s license, be willing to serve on an on-call shift basis, participate in an interview process, submit to background investigations and fingerprinting, and successfully complete the mandatory training.

Aberdeen Police Department and 180 Turning Lives Around are committed to culturally diverse teams to better serve the community. Bi-lingual capability is helpful. Please contact Sgt. Darrell Oliver, Aberdeen Police Department DVRT DVLO, at 732- 583-4200ext. 762, or log on to www.aberdeennj.org, to obtain an application or for additional information.

For over 36 years, 180 Turning Lives Around has been dedicated to providing shelter, counseling, support, prevention, education, and advocacy for residents of Monmouth County who are affected bydomestic violence and sexual violence.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence or sexual violence, you can call the 180 Turning Lives Around Confidential Hotline at 732-264-4111 or 888-843-9262, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. For more information, visit www.180nj.org. In an emergency, always dial 911.