by Matt Agorist, The Free Thought Project:

Putnam County, GA — Frequent readers of the Free Thought Project know that police officers in the United States have an exceedingly higher rate of domestic violence than any other occupation. The average rate of domestic violence among most families in America is around 10%. As the National Center for Women and Policing points out, two studies have found that at least 40% of police officer families experience domestic violence. That is a four-fold increase.

A simple Google search will illustrate how police officers are arrested for domestic violence on a near-weekly basis. It is also estimated that the incident rate for domestic violence is likely far higher than reported as many women stay silent out of fear of retaliation and the fact that their abuser’s brothers in blue will cover for them.

Proving the notion as to why women are scared to turn in their abuser husbands is a case out of Georgia this week. Amanda Perrault’s experience with her police officer abuser turned fatal after she reported him.

Last week, Perrault, 44, reported her police officer husband, Michael Perrault for abusing her. After she reported him, Michael Perrault was arrested and charged with simple battery, family violence and cruelty to children in the third degree.

Amanda claimed her husband hit her in the face and pushed her out of their front door. This claim was backed up by the couple’s 8-year-old daughter who witnessed it and the fact that she had physical signs of injury to her body. The officer admitted he had been drinking and taking prescription medication prior to the alleged confrontation as well.

Michael Perrault was almost immediately released. On Monday, Amanda Perrault was found dead in her home, shot once in the head with a .380-caliber handgun.

When police questioned Michael Perrault, despite having a record of abusing his wife, he was not arrested and let go. He claimed that during a heated argument, Amanda Perrault produced the gun and quickly shot herself in the head before he could stop her.

“The bottom line is that he (Michael Perrault) says they were arguing and then she suddenly produced a gun and shot herself,” Sills told the AJC earlier this week. “I’ve either got a suicide or a murder,” Sills said. “That’s what I have. I mean it’s just that simple. It could be either way.”

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