Dan Murphy

Co-Founder, Building Blue Training & Consultation
Domestic Violence & Trauma Specialist | Retired Law Enforcement Veteran
President, Board of Directors — Safe Space Domestic Violence Program (Since 2010)
Law Enforcement Representative — Montana Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission (15 years)

Dan Murphy is a retired 25-year law enforcement veteran and nationally recognized expert in domestic violence dynamics, trauma, and resilience. As Co-Founder of Building Blue Training & Consultation, Dan is dedicated to changing how we look at and train for domestic violence—bridging science, lived experience, and understanding to better prepare officers for one of the most complex and dangerous calls they face.

Through Building Blue, Dan challenges the limitations of the long-standing “power and control” model that has shaped domestic violence education for decades. He advocates for a broader, evidence-based framework that distinguishes between Instrumental (calculated) and Expressive (emotionally reactive) forms of violence. By integrating trauma science, neurobiology, and behavioral understanding into law enforcement training, he helps officers move beyond surface-level responses to truly understand why violence occurs—resulting in safer, smarter, and more effective policing.

Dan also emphasizes that trauma is not only something officers witness—it’s something they experience. His work focuses on the well-being and resilience of first responders, helping them recognize the impacts of chronic stress, secondary trauma, and emotional fatigue, and build the skills needed to sustain long, healthy, and balanced careers in service.

In addition to his work with Building Blue, Dan has served as President of the Board for Safe Space, a comprehensive domestic violence program serving five counties in Southwest Montana, since 2010. For the past 15 years, he has also served as the law enforcement representative on the Montana Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission (MDVFRC)—widely regarded as the gold standard for fatality review commissions nationwide—where he contributes to high-level policy reform and systemic improvement across the state. Dan also designed a four-part curriculum on domestic violence, sexual assault, and healthy relationships for the Butte School District, which he personally taught for almost 10 years as part of the Family and Consumer Sciences Department at Butte High School. This program helped students understand the foundations of respect, consent, and healthy communication—laying the groundwork for violence prevention through education.

Dan has provided expert witness testimony in both civil and criminal cases in Montana District Court, and has testified before the Montana State Legislature on matters related to domestic violence response and the importance of teaching the dynamics of healthy relationships to school-age children.

His leadership and advocacy have earned him numerous honors, including the National/International Purple Ribbon First Responder Award (2024), Matt Dale Outstanding Advocate of the Year, Moving Mountains Officer of the Year (2025), and multiple Domestic Violence Officer of the Year Awards.

At the heart of Dan’s work is a belief that true progress in law enforcement begins with understanding trauma—both in those we serve and in ourselves. His mission is to help build a culture of policing grounded in knowledge, compassion, and resilience, where officers are equipped to serve with both skill and humanity.