A statement of policy purpose notes that offenses committed between family or household members are serious events, regardless of the living arrangements of those involved. The policy's purpose is to prescribe a course of action that will ensure enforcement of the law and steps to prevent future violence. The departmental policy is to respond to every report of a domestic incident and to consider domestic violence as criminal conduct to be investigated as any other violent incident. Dispute mediation will not be used as a substitute for appropriate criminal proceedings in domestic violence cases. Police shall protect victims of domestic violence and provide them with support through a combination of law enforcement and community services. This policy will also promote officer safety by ensuring that officers are fully prepared to respond to and deal effectively with domestic violence calls for service. This policy statement defines a domestic incident, a domestic relationship, and domestic violence. Other major sections of the policy focus on communications procedures, responding officer procedures, officer arrest procedures, civilian arrests, cross complaints, family offense arrest proceeding, nonfamily offenses, orders of protection, firearms, appearance tickets and bail, and training requirements.