Originally Posted by
redatlanta 
An Order of Protection would help you with keeping him away from the kids FOR NOW. Without reporting this incident to the police its going to be a he said she said. I doubt you will be able to enforce keeping him away from his kids without it.
Yes--that's how it is in my state too I think.
You must file the report or you have no "offical" proof that the children are unsafe with him when custody comes along later.
I don't think that people are automatically arrested either, but that's what the lawyer could tell you. I understand not wanting to involve the police, but if future custody may depend on establishing his potential for violence when drinking I wouldn't hesitate to do so*.
You are doing amazingly well, by the way, Emmy.
(*I'm not at all trying to tell you what to do but my father was violent with my mother and because she didn't file a report there was nothing to be done come divorce time).