Billings work session on domestic violence focuses on training, GPS monitoring and Brodie’s Law; council to schedule follow-ups

Billings city leaders on Wednesday convened a work session to review how local systems respond to domestic violence, hearing presentations from the police chief and city prosecutors and nearly a dozen public commenters who urged more prevention, survivor-centered services and legislative fixes.

Rich St. John, Billings police chief, told the council that the department has expanded domestic-violence training beyond state minimums — including a 40-hour academy domestic-violence block and additional scenario and Family Justice Center instruction — and is implementing retraining and new policies after identifying procedural gaps. “Domestic violence is among the most dangerous and complex crimes that we face as a department,” St. John said, and he described plans for lethality-assessment expansion, protection-order enforcement and a local domestic-violence fatality-review team.

Deputy city attorney Morgan Licks explained prosecution and release procedures. She said Montana law designates several domestic-related offenses…