Story Created:
Mar 25, 2009 at 4:41 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 15, 2010 at 10:20 AM CDT
Sgt. Daniel Dominguez , a 17 year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department finds himself on the other side of the law. His on again,off again girlfriend, who is also the mother of his 7-year -old daughter says they got in an argument about another man.
"They had a verbal argument and somewhere in the verbal argument the officer assaulted her," said Captain Steve McCool, Oklahoma City Police Department.
According to a police report, he gave her some ultimatums and then pulled out his handgun and struck her in the knee, while their daughter was watching. Although the woman says Dominguez threatened her life, she reported the incident to police.
"Officers then went and located him at another extra job he was working at, brought him downtown and he was arrested on one count of domestic abuse," said Captain McCool.
Marcia Smith with the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault says this victim did the right thing but says the fact that Dominguez is a police officer could make this complicated.
"Are they going to believe him or believe me? Are they going to protect him against me? This is peer group, the folks he works with everyday so it absolutely enhances her feeling of helplessness," said Smith.
Captain McCool says the department is taking this accusation very seriously and Dominguez will be fully investigated.
"That gives us the opportunity to investigate it, not only criminally but also administratively so we'd rather air on the side of caution and go ahead and put them on admin leave while that investigation is going on," said Captain McCool.
Smith agrees with the department's decision and says the perpetrator --no matter who it is-- needs to be punished if found guilty.
"Taking a stand against the violence and saying we will not tolerate this from an officer just like we wouldn't from another individual," said Smith.
