Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley officials have partnered with cadets from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Training Academy for a “Dinner and Conversation” event to educate the next generation of law enforcement officers on responding to domestic incident calls.

Members of recruit class 414 will dine with survivors of domestic violence and learn from their experiences what to look for to potentially identify a domestic violence situation.

“They had an assignment to reach out and help a nonprofit,” said Linda Davies, the executive director of the domestic violence center. “And they reached out to us.”

Davies said that the event will be beneficial to both the cadets and the women at the event because their experiences with law enforcement in the past have not always been positive.

Domestic violence calls are difficult, emotion-filled situations, and a number of factors make resolving the situation tough for deputies.

Domestic Violence Center and Sheriff’s Station officials hope the event can bridge the gap between the new deputies and the people they protect.

“The women will share some of the things that went right when a call was made to the Sheriff’s (Department) and some of the things that didn’t,” said Davies. “It’s something they can remember in the back of their minds.”

Davies convinced several women to speak at the event by explaining that this event could help other women in the future.

“This is about paying it forward,” she said. “It’s not about you. It’s about the next woman. It’s about a domestic violence call that these cadets (will) go on.”

Davies was excited about the event and what it could accomplish.

“It’s going to be a healing experience,” she said. “This is going to be so important for them.”

Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station officials are also optimistic that the event will help future deputies when responding to domestic violence situations.

“It’s going to give deputies a chance to get a different perspective on domestic violence,” said Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station PIO Shirly Miller. “They learn about responding to domestic  violence calls, but this gives them the real life stories.”

The event will take place from 6-8 p.m. on June 18 at the SAVIA center in Newhall, located at 23780 Newhall Ave.