A Newark cop made headlines this month when he was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his estranged wife, Christie Formisano, and wounding her boyfriend.

That alleged domestic violence homicide, if proven, would be part of a rising trend that alarms researchers and advocacy organizations.

In the most recent case, John Formisano, a lieutenant with the Newark Police Department, said he arrived at his wife’s home while she was spending the night with her boyfriend. He said he “blacked out” before shooting Christie and her boyfriend, according to court documents.

There were 52 domestic violence-related murders in New Jersey in 2016, the most recent year of data available, according to State Police crime statistics. Of those, a third of the victims were spouses or co-parents. Two-thirds of the victims were women.

The rise in murders statewide is paralleled nationally, according to a recent study that examined gender differences in homicides, although the latest figures are still far lower than in the early 1990s, when the country passed the Violence Against Women Act and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.

Partners in a relationship with a police officer face difficulties getting help, said Nicole Morella, policy director at the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence. “It’s harder for them to reach out and call 911,” she said, knowing that the responders could be the abuser’s colleagues.

Attempting to leave the relationship is the most dangerous time for victims, said Laura Johnson, a professor at the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University.

“The victim has more power when they’re trying to get out, and homicide is the only way [the abuser] can maintain control,” Johnson said.

She pointed out that access to a firearm increases the risk of partner violence becoming a homicide.

New Jersey limits gun access to people convicted or accused of domestic violence, including a restriction on gun purchases if you have a restraining order filed against you. The State Police data does not say how many murders were gun-related, but reported 145 total gun-related crimes, including assault and stalking.

“Even though New Jersey has relatively tough gun laws, the fact that other states don’t allows for weapons to come into the state,” Johnson said.

Morella said she’s worried about what the 2017 data will show about the effect of bail reform on domestic violence rates. She said the current system to decide whether or not to release offenders doesn’t account for the complexity of domestic violence.

“With domestic violence cases, it’s important to understand the physical harm in the crime, but it’s more important to look at the level of control of the abuser,” she said. “Is the victim isolated? Are they even able to call for help?”

If you need help, the domestic violence hotline in NJ is available 24 hours a day at 1 (800) 572-SAFE (7233). You can also find local organizations in your country here.