State Instructor Will Train Police Recruits on Combating Domestic Violence

NASHVILLE – Tennessee law enforcement agencies now have a new resource to help combat domestic violence and connect victims with community-based domestic violence service programs.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) announces the hiring of 22-year veteran officer Teddy Murphy as a new fulltime instructor at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) where he will teach the Lethality Assessment Program – Maryland Model (LAP). Originally designed for use by law enforcement, LAP gives officers and other first responders a model for effective domestic violence assessment in order to better understand domestic violence calls and prevent escalating violence that can lead to homicides. Murphy will teach the program to every basic TLETA police recruit class in addition to conducting sessions with veteran officers at departments across the state.  

“The Governor’s Task Force on Sentencing and Recidivism first outlined the need for a better way to assist Tennessee law enforcement in the assessment of domestic violence situations and help protect victims,” said TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “While the LAP program is currently used by some departments, this new TLETA instructor position will ensure that future all Tennessee law enforcement officers receive training in its valuable domestic violence assessment methods.”

Murphy has previous experience working as a Lethality Assessment Program Coordinator for the State of Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs. A native of Hickman County, he holds an associate’s degree in police science from Nashville State Community College and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/homeland security from Austin Peay State University. 

“Teddy brings invaluable experience as a law enforcement officer and trainer to our academy staff.  We are excited for the potential to make a great impact with state-wide implementation of this tool to protect victims,” said TLETA Director Brian Grisham.

This position is funded under a Services* Training* Officers* Prosecutors (STOP) grant provided to the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy by the Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Criminal Justice Programs. 

Said Murphy: “In my time working with the Lethality Assessment Program in the State of Tennessee, I made many valuable contacts and partners that will help me continue to spread this life-saving program across our state.”

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