AS A RESULT OF THE GROWING WORLDWIDE PROBLEM OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, THERE IS NEED FOR POLICE TO RESPOND MORE EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY WHEN CALLED TO INTERVENE. THE FBI REPORTS THAT 20 PERCENT OF U.S. PATROL OFFICERS WHO ARE KILLED ON DUTY ARE KILLED DURING SUCH INTERVENTIONS. DURING THE 9-YEAR PERIOD ENDING IN 1979, APPROXIMATELY 7,000 RCMP OFFICERS RECEIVED TRAINING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN THE U.S., POLICE FAMILY VIOLENCE TRAINING PROGRAMS BEGAN ONLY AFTER 1966 IN ORDER TO PROMOTE OFFICER SAFETY, TO RESPOND TO A PUBLIC OUTCRY FOR DOMESTIC INTERVENTION, TO PREVENT VIOLENCE, AND TO ALERT POLICE TO THEIR ROLES AS HELPERS. ALTHOUGH FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAMS MAY TRAIN ALL PATROLMEN OR ONLY A SPECIAL GROUP, IT IS MORE ADVISABLE TO PROVIDE SUCH TRAINING TO ALL POLICE PERSONNEL. TRAINING AND TEACHING MAY BE DONE BY POLICE PERSONNEL, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, OR BOTH. THREE DIFFERENT INTERVENTION APPROACHES MAY BE TAUGHT: THE ASSERTION OF AUTHORITY, NEGOTIATION, AND COUNSELING. MOST POLICE OFFICERS VIEW NEGOTIATION AS THE MOST USEFUL SKILL TO BE LEARNED FOR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT. BOTH PEACEKEEPING AND COUNSELING OBJECTIVES CAN BE EMBRACED BY VIEWING THE CRISIS INTERVENTION PROCESS AS CONSISTING OF THREE CRITICAL PHASES: (1) CONTROL, (2) DIFFUSION (DE-ESCALATION), AND (3) PROBLEMSOLVING. NEW APPROACHES TO TEACHING CRISIS INTERVENTION ARE ALSO NEEDED, HOWEVER, SINCE GOOD INTERPERSONAL SKILLS ARE NOT BEST TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM. SIMULATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVENTS ARE SUGGESTED. REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)