The Denver Police Department keeps a cast of volunteer actors with unglamorous roles.
They play rape and molestation victims at the Denver Police Academy. They train cadets on what they should say to traumatized women and children near their emotional limit.
Police are usually a victim’s first contact in a lengthy and trying process, Denver police Lt. Catherine Davis said.
“The initial contact with the police will set the tone for the victim as she goes through a process that can be overwhelming,” Davis said. “What you want to avoid is revictimizing the victim.”
A decade ago, Davis, then a sergeant in charge of the department’s sex-crimes unit, helped create the Denver Sexual Assault Interagency Council and wrote a protocol of action for police, prosecutors and other agencies that help victims.
Today, Davis will be honored for her work.
Council members include police, prosecutors, victim’s advocates, school officials and private counselors, Division 6 Cmdr. Deborah Dilley said.
The volunteers who pretend to be victims play a part in one of the many initiatives created in the past 10 years. Many council members have contributed other ideas to meet victims’ medical, financial and psychological needs.
This year, the council will add a protocol for dealing with college students and victims between ages 12 and 17.
A few years ago, Don Enloe, the University of Denver’s director of campus safety, explained to council members that colleges had the authority to sanction students accused of sexual assault, even when they were not charged.
It was a surprise to police and prosecutors, he said.
“We operate on a lower burden of proof,” Enloe said.
So about 18 months ago, when a female student declined to pursue charges against a person who allegedly sexually assaulted her while she was drunk, Denver detectives contacted Enloe, he said.
The student was suspended for two weeks and warned about what constitutes consent.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
