[Elspode]

There is never a good reason for violence in the home. Your first priority is the safety of you and your children. I *do* agree with Bruce - an order of protection, while only as protective as the thickness of the piece of paper it is written on, establishes a baseline for the legal dealings to come which will eventually establish security for you and your kids.

If your husband is a cop, and he is also a wifebeater, the first thing I would do is to get your solicitor looking into his service record to see if there is any pattern of excessive use of force in the line of duty. Trends and patterns are very important in establishing bonafides in divorces due to abuse.

Please be safe, and be strong. This bunch here in The Cellar have strong shoulders, use 'em frequently and well.