WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the world's largest membership organization of police executives that provides the professional voice of law enforcement and is comprised of numerous agencies that serve jurisdictions including closed communities such as the military, university, and college campuses; and

WHEREAS, the impact of sexual violence and rape on military, university, and college campuses impacts the psychological and emotional well-being of victims and corrupts the safety and security of these communities; and

WHEREAS, military, university and college campus law enforcement leaders must clearly establish community trust and effectively and comprehensively respond to reports of sexual assault by supporting a victim-centered approach towards those who experience sexual violence and a perpetrator-focused investigation to hold those who commit these offenses accountable; and

WHEREAS, the military, university and college campuses largely comprise these demographics and are linked in how they support social development, socialization and integration within each respective culture and environment; and

WHEREAS, the reporting of sexual assault on military installations[1] universities and college campuses is extremely low due to many factors[2], some of which include the trauma, shame, and self-blame victims may experience[3]; the fear of retribution and/or punishment by the perpetrator, supervisor, peers, and/or the criminal justice system; and the victim's concern that they may not be believed or even blamed for the assault[4]; and

WHEREAS, perpetrators of sexual assault may be predatory and serial in nature, target victims, and employ a variety of tactics to create victim vulnerabilities often facilitated with alcohol and drugs; isolate victims; use implied or overt threats, coercion, stalking tactics, and other behaviors to control victims[5]; and

WHEREAS, military, university and college campus law enforcement leaders must identify innovative tools and resources to effectively and collaboratively respond to sexual violence; develop strong, comprehensive response and investigative policies and procedures; provide current and comprehensive training and education on sexual violence to all department members and investigative personnel; create/collaborate with multi-disciplinary partnerships; and provide victims of sexual assault with resources, access to support, and a professional response; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP duly assembled at its 121st Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, calls upon law enforcement leadership in the military, universities, and colleges to partner with local and state law enforcement to prioritize efforts to address sexual violence and strengthen the response to these crimes that occur in these communities; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP fully supports the continued partnerships and collaborations among the military, university, college, and local policing agencies which are required to ensure the safety and security of our communities and hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable in order to best serve those service members and students who place their trust in these institutions.

Submitted by: Defense Chiefs of Police Section and University/College Police Section

DEF.001.T14

[1] US Commission on Civil Rights. "Sexual Assault in the Military." Retrieved from:
http://www.usccr.gov/pubs/09242013_Statutory_Enforcement_Report_Sexual_Assault_in_the_Military.pdf (2013)

[2] "Sexual Violence on Campus" Prepared for US Senator Claire McCaskill by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight - Majority Staff. Retrieved from: http://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/SurveyReportwithAppendix.pdf (2014)

[3] Fisher, Bonnie; Cullen, Francis; Turner, Michael. "The Sexual Victimization of College Women." Retrieved from: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf

[4] Planty, Michael et al. "Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010" Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice,

Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics website: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvsv9410.pdf

[5]Lisak, David. "Understanding the predatory nature of sexual violence." Retrieved from: http://www. innovations. harvard. edu/showdoc. html (2008).