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600 East Walnut
Columbia, MO 65201-4491
573-874-7652/FAX: 573-874-3142
If you are a victim of domestic violence, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.
The Domestic Violence Enforcement Unit (DOVE) began operating at the Columbia Police Department on February 2, 1998. DOVE is a specialized unit comprised of three investigators, a victim advocate, and two assistant prosecuting attorneys. The unit is comprised of detectives from the Columbia Police Department and the Boone County Sheriff's Department. The unit's mission is to decrease the level of domestic violence by investigating domestic violence cases, promoting deterrence of violence, assisting victims, and interrupting the cycle of violence.
To accomplish its mission, the DOVE Unit investigates domestic violence incidents in Columbia and Boone County, assists the prosecuting attorney's office in prosecuting the offenders, aids victims in obtaining restraining orders, and assists with the arrest of offenders based on active warrants. The DOVE Unit also assists victims, coordinates with other agencies, trains officers in and around Boone County, and promotes community education. The intended result of these activities is to deter and hold offenders accountable, empower victims, and enhance domestic violence reporting and enforcement.
The DOVE Unit was formed and funded through the STOP Violence Against Women Grant to strengthen the law enforcement and criminal justice system's response to domestic violence. The DOVE Unit benefits from community policing philosophy, a working relationship with the community, and changes in police work which have embraced a commitment to reduce the level of domestic violence within our community.
The Domestic Violence Enforcement Unit urges:
If you are a victim of domestic violence, please report it to your local law enforcement agency.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, developing a safety plan to prepare in advance for the possibility of further violence is an important step. The safety plan addresses the following situations that you may encounter in an abusive relationship and steps to take to keep you and your children safe:
Name |
Organization |
Phone |
|---|---|---|
Detective Heath Chinn |
Boone County Sheriff's Department |
(573) 875-1111 |
Detective Jeff Westbrook |
Columbia Police Department |
(573) 874-7578 |
| Detective Bob Dochler | Columbia Police Department | (573)874-7576 |
| Victim Specialist Mark Koch | Prosecuting Attorneys Office | (573)
886-4135 |
| Victim Advocate Aleshia Marso | The Women's Shelter | (573)
874-7577 |
| Victim Advocate Angela Vescio | The Women's Shelter | (573)875-1111 |
| Andrea Hayes, Cassandra Rogers, and Spencer Bartlett | Prosecuting Attorneys Office | (573)
886-4100 |
| Julie Florence | Probation and Parole | (573)884-7016 |
| Victoria Okoiron | Probation and Parole | (573)884-7016 |
| Ted Solomon | Counselor | (573) 443-2204 |
Detective Heath Chinn has been a deputy with the Boone County Sheriffs Department since 2003. He is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team, International Police Mountain Bike Association as a bike officer, and a member of the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad. He attended Crime Scene Investigation School for specialized training as a Crime Scene Technician. He began his current assignment with the DOVE Unit in September 2008.
Detective Westbrook holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and is a lifelong resident of Columbia. Westbrook was employed by the Mid-Missouri Mental Health Center and as a juvenile officer for the 13th Judicial Circuit prior to being hired by the Columbia Police Department where he has been for the past 19 years. During this time, Detective Westbrook has served as a DARE officer, downtown foot patrol officer, and a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team. Since being assigned to the DOVE Unit, he has attended numerous training sessions throughout the country. He has visited similar domestic violence investigative units in New York City, Dallas and Portland. Westbrook has made presentations regarding the investigation of domestic violence crimes to law enforcement, advocates and others in Missouri and Illinois.
Detective Dochler graduated from the University of Missouri- Columbia in 1995 with a Bachelors degree in Agriculture and Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Dochler has been with the Columbia Police department since November 2000. during this time he has served as a third shift patrol officer, Field Training Officer, and patrol rifle operator. He is a member of the Forensic Evidence Team and the Mounted Patrol Unit. Dochler was assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit in January 2008. In addition to investigating domestic violence cases, Dochler gives presentations regarding domestic violence to other police agencies and advocates throughout the state.
Mark Koch has been with the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney's Office since June 2001. He received a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1995. Since his graduation, Mark has worked as an occupational therapist in forensic mental health and early childhood intervention. In 1997, he became the program director for the Coalition Against Rape and Domestic Violence (CARDV) in Callaway County and worked in community based victim services for four years. He is a past member of the Missouri Victim Assistance Network (MoVA) Board of Directors. Mark is a member of the Victim Response Team for the prosecuting attorney's office and is responsible for providing emotional support, legal and judicial information and assistance with restitution for crime victims and their families as they participate in the criminal justice system.
Aleshia accepted the position of DOVE advocate in July 2008. As part of her position in the DOVE Unit, she is responsible for providing support and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence, mainly those who have had contact with the Columbia Police Department. Aleshia holds a bachelors degree in social work from Columbia College and a masters degree from the University of Missouri. During her undergraduate studies Aleshia interned with the Victim response Team at the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. For her graduate practicum, Aleshia served as the victim advocate for the Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney's Office where she remained until accepting her current position.
Angela Vescio served as a residential victim advocate at The Shelter for nearly two years prior to accepting the position of DOVE victim advocate in September 2009. As part of her position in the DOVE Unit, she is responsible for providing support and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence, mainly those who have had contact with the Boone County Sheriffs Department. Angela holds a bachelors degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a masters degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During her undergraduate studies Angela interned with The Shelter as a residential victim advocate. For her graduate practicum Angela interned as a DOVE victim advocate where she received extensive training and education in providing services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Assistant Prosecutor Rogers has been an attorney with the Boone County Prosecuting Attorneys Office since May 2008. She received a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1992. She holds a J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia, which she obtained in 2005. As one of three assistant prosecuting attorneys assigned to the DOVE Unit, Rogers is responsible for reviewing and filing domestic violence cases, working with victims, and prosecuting the offenders.
Julie Florence has been employed with the Missouri Department of Corrections since July 1994. She has a bachelor of arts degree in social work and has worked both in the women's institutions, and most recently in the Boone County field office as a Probation Officer II for the last eight years. Julie has been involved with domestic violence cases and the DOVE Unit for the last four years, working closely with the victims and offenders to hold them accountable. She has prior experience working with juveniles and their families, addressing many of the same issues of substance abuse, anger management, and physical abuse.
Victoria Okoiron has been a Probation and Parole officer since January 1996. She has supervised regular and intensive caseloads, and now supervises a domestic violence caseload. She has been a D.O.V.E member since May 2005. Prior to her current position, she worked as a paid intern caseworker in adult institution, from June 1994 to January 1996. She also worked as a counselor assistant for a dual diagnosis center in Columbia, MO, from May 1994 to June 2002. Victoria received a B.A. in psychology, and a B.S. in criminal justice from Columbia College in 1993. She completed 9 hours at the University of Missouri in 1994/1995 toward masters in public administration. During her undergraduate years, she completed practicum and internships at the Juvenile Justice Center, Adult Court Services, and Boone County Independent Living Services.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.
Columbia Police Department
Domestic Violence Enforcement Unit (DOVE)
600 East Walnut Street
Columbia, Missouri 65201
Telephone: (573) 874-7652
FAX: (573) 874-3142
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