Several area law enforcement and social service agencies Wednesday signed on to a memorandum of understanding that establishes guidelines for responding to and dealing with sexual assault complaints.
“It’s a better understanding that all agencies know what each other are doing,” said Stacey Cicero, executive director of the Safe Haven domestic abuse shelter in Shawano.
“It’s a collaboration and coming together,” Cicero said, so that all agencies are on the same page when it comes to responding to sexual assault complaints.
“It shows we’re all working together to end sexual assault,” she said.
Much of what is outlined in the guidelines is already the policy for many of the agencies involved, Cicero said, but the memorandum sets that down in writing for everyone.
Also, Cicero said, there might be law enforcement officers who don’t go out on sexual assault calls all that often.
“This sets out the steps that they can take, the resources that are available, who they can call if there is sexual assault that is going to the hospital for an exam, how that process works, things like that,” she said.
“It’s a really good tool on how to deal with victims of sexual assault,” Cicero said.
Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl said the guidelines are really nothing new to his department, which has already been following them.
However, he said, other agencies might have a different view, or response that is different from what police were expecting.
“We weren’t meshing as well as we could,” he said.
“This lets everyone know what their responsibilities are,” Kohl said, “and it doesn’t force us or require us to do something that we’re not already doing.
“To help people not be revictimized, and to help the people that need help, is going to be of our utmost importance,” Kohl said.
The agreement was the result of efforts by a multi-jurisdictional Community Coordinated Response Team, which includes Shawano County agencies as well as Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee agencies.
“The purpose of the Shawano County CCR team is to create a partnership of community agencies that will confront and work cooperatively to end sexual assault and domestic violence in our community and to ensure that the rights, dignity and safety of victims are our top priority,” Cicero said.
Agencies collaborating in the memorandum of understanding include Safe Haven, Shawano County Human Services, Shawano Medical Center and ThedaCare, Shawano County Probation and Parole, Shawano police and the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
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