Tag: police

• We Leave This Out When We Talk About the Police

  I’ve never been able to tell what kind of day my husband has had when he arrives home from working as a police officer.  His demeanor never changes whether his day has been chaotic or boring, or if he’s worked on patrol or as a detective. He’s been an officer for over twenty-five years, and…

  Andrea Verbanic

  March 2, 2025

  Uncategorized

  books about being investigated, books about flawed investigations, child abuse, child abuse investigations, child protective services, child welfare, child welfare system, CPS, mental-health, police, police mental health, Renegade Agency, therapist, writing

• Professionals Can Be Just as Dysfunctional as the People They Serve

  When I describe people who misrepresented information and refused to take accountability in a child abuse investigation, you might assume I am describing the suspects. Instead, I’m describing the police officer and Child Protective Services (CPS) workers who investigated me when a child I provided care for was discovered to have a spiral fracture in…

  Andrea Verbanic

  July 18, 2024

  Uncategorized

  child abuse, child abuse investigations, child protective services, child welfare, child welfare system, police, social work, social worker

• Who Controls the Narrative?

  Being believed depends on who you are. “Who disagrees with this statement: I believe what a police officer says is true because a police officer said it.” I was in a jury pool fielding questions from a prosecutor designed to weed out the undesirables from the final twelve. I immediately disagreed with the statement he…

  Andrea Verbanic

  May 31, 2024

  Uncategorized

  #policewife, child abuse, child abuse investigations, child protective services, child welfare, child welfare system, police, social work, social worker

• I Don’t Trust the Police and I’m Married to a Cop

  In late 2013, I was investigated for child abuse by the police. I doubt anybody expects to find themselves in this position, but my surprise was magnified by my history. I had previously spent ten years employed as a child abuse investigator for the state and I’m married to a police officer, and so being investigated…

  Andrea Verbanic

  May 19, 2024

  Uncategorized

  child abuse investigations, child protective services, child welfare, law enforcement, police, police wife, social work

• The Emotional Fallout of a Police Investigation

  As a child protective services (CPS) social worker, I routinely moved from family to family giving little thought to what happened after my work was complete.  This detachment allowed me to work in chaos for ten years, but being insulated from the emotional fallout prevented me from recognizing how my actions truly impacted the people…

  Andrea Verbanic

  May 3, 2024

  Uncategorized

  child protective services, child welfare, police