In response to a change in state law, the Police Commission has revised a town police policy concerning how certain domestic violence calls are handled.

Police Commission members unanimously approved the modified policy on February 5.

The new state law concerning police enforcement actions during domestic violence incidents took effect on January 1.

Under the terms of the town police policy changes, a peace officer, when responding to a family violence complaint made by two or more opposing parties, is required to arrest the person whom the officer believes is the “dominant aggressor” in the situation. The revised policy does not require police to arrest the person who is the apparent “victim” in a dispute.

The modified policy does not prohibit dual arrests, but discourages such arrests when appropriate.

The revised policy does not pertain to tenants who live together in a residential rental property who are not in a dating relationship.

The modified policy gives police officers more discretion to investigate the dynamics of the relationship of the parties involved in a domestic dispute, encouraging police to arrest the “dominant aggressor.”

Under the terms of the new policy, town police will receive comprehensive training in spotting the person who is the dominant aggressor in a domestic violence situation, with the goal of better helping the victims.

The revised policy establishes the factors that a police officer must consider in determining which person is the dominant aggressor. The modified policy allows an officer to submit a report to the state’s attorney for further review and advice on the conduct of the person or the persons who are not arrested.

The new state law provides the police officer at a domestic dispute with legal immunity from civil liability.

The town police department bases its domestic violence policy on a State of Connecticut model policy known as “Police Response to Crimes of Family Violence.”