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RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF BRIGHTON TO ESTABLISH A SHARED VICTIM SERVICES UNIT
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Summary and Background Information: In 2013, the Commerce City Police Department received notification from the Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement board (V.A.L.E.) they would no longer provide grant funds for the Commerce City Police Department’s Victim Advocate program. Reasons provided by the VALE board included, but were not limited to, the department under serving those crime victims under the Crime Victims Bill of Rights, more commonly known as Victim Rights Act (VRA) crimes. The police department conducted an examination of its service delivery model and found opportunity for improvement.
In an effort to enhance the service to future crime victims in Commerce City, police department management enacted a new policy, closer supervision of the victim advocate staff and provided training to all sworn members of the police department. First, whenever a VRA crime occurs it required a mandatory response by a department victim advocate. Second, follow-up services were to occur within a reasonable time frame for each crime victim by a department victim advocate. Third, police department staff explored other alternatives for ensuring crime victims were properly served by the Commerce City Police Department.
One of the alternatives explored was the possibility of partnering with the City of Brighton Police Department to provide services to crime victims for both communities. As a citywide goal to explore and partner with neighboring communities when possible, this partnership seemed appropriate. Both police chiefs discussed and agreed further examination of this concept should occur. Assigned staff from both departments discussed the possibility of combining services. Once the details were worked out, an IGA was crafted and has been approved by Brighton’s City Council.
Some key elements to the agreement are:
· Brighton’s Victim Adv...
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