Silence Broken: The IPV Talks turns its focus this week to Superintendent Derek Needham of the Ontario Provincial Police, who shares how a single moment early in his Lanark posting became the “spark” that reshaped the region’s approach to intimate partner violence.
Needham says his first day on the job involved responding to a tragic femicide — an experience that pushed him to rethink how police and community agencies could work together.
He says the partnership with Lanark County Interval House grew from a simple act of trust.
Needham explains that IPV touches every part of society and remains one of the most impactful crimes police face. He says education, awareness and collaboration are essential to preventing harm before it happens.
This episode also highlights the success of the victim advocate program and the CKW inquest recommendations, which mirror work already underway in Lanark County.
Listen to the latest episode below.
