When she’s not coaching women’s football, former Cleveland Fusion running back, Martina Latessa, works as a Cleveland detective investigating domestic violence cases.

As if that isn’t intimidating enough, her assignment is to tackle the highest-risk situations that are predicted to escalate to homicide.

Latessa is part of a group of changemakers across the country in law enforcement and the judicial system who intervene in these extreme cases and are highlighted in the new book, No Visible Bruises by Rachel Louise Snyder. The Fusion spoke with the author to better understand her work and how she came to write about Cleveland’s own. Snyder met Latessa through her research and knew she had to capture her story to shed light on the way community members use their unique talents to help those impacted by domestic violence.

The goal of the book is to educate and dispel myths about domestic violence in an accessible format that hooks readers from the very first chapter. She challenges the idea that domestic violence is merely “an unfortunate fate for the unlucky few, a matter of bad choices and cruel environments.” Through her interviews and ride-alongs with those on the frontlines, including police officers, case workers, and lawyers, she explains the cycle of violence that exists across cultures and the intervention methods in place to change the outcomes.

“It starts with us talking about it,” Snyder continues. Interdisciplinary training programs are expanding in the United States to shift the conversation away from shame and doubt and towards hope. By understanding the root causes of these cases, professionals are better-equipped to help those affected by domestic violence. Latessa and her team in Cleveland are a big part of this movement.

Through No Visible Bruises, Snyder details Latessa’s efforts on the Cleveland police force and explains how competitive sports have impacted her work. She is a humble and authentic leader who works effectively with colleagues and victims alike. Snyder said confidently, “If every community had a Martina [Latessa], we’d be much better off.”

If you want to learn more about the realities of domestic violence and those on the forefront seeking to end it, pick up a copy of No Visible Bruises today on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.