Letters of support, as text

MercyOne

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MercyOne Des Moines
Emergency Department
1111 6th Ave
Des Moines, Iowa
50314

MercyOne.org

January 23, 2025

Shannon Knudsen, SAFE Center
Subject: Letter of Support for the SAFE Center

Dear Shannon and S.A.F.E. Center board of directors,

On behalf of MercyOne Emergency Department, we express our enthusiastic support for the establishment of the SAFE Center and its mission to provide comprehensive care and support to survivors of sexual assault in our community.

The SAFE Center's vision aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing compassionate and high-quality care to all patients, particularly those who have experienced trauma in our community. We recognize the critical need for specialized services for survivors of sexual assault, including:

• Immediate Medical Care: The availability of a dedicated, free-standing sexual assault clinic staffed by SANE nurses will ensure timely access to essential medical care, including forensic examinations, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and treatment for injuries.

• Comprehensive Support: The SAFE Center's integrated approach, offering access to advocacy, counseling, legal support, and long-term care, is crucial for the holistic well-being of survivors.

• Data-Driven Advocacy: The Center's commitment to data collection and analysis will be invaluable for informing policy changes and improving the response to sexual assault in our state.

• Enhanced Training: By expanding SANE nurse training programs, the SAFE Center will contribute significantly to improving the quality of care provided to survivors across Iowa. We believe that the SAFE Center will be a vital resource for our community, offering survivors a safe, supportive, and confidential environment to receive the care they deserve. We are eager to collaborate with the SAFE Center and explore opportunities for partnership to ensure the best possible outcomes for survivors of sexual assault.

Sincerely,
Sydney Leach, MD
MercyOne Des Moines Emergency Medical Director

Hijinio Carreon, DO
MercyOne Iowa Chief Medical Executive

UnityPoint Health

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April 3, 2023
Governor Kim Reynolds
Iowa Capital
Des Moines Iowa

Dear Governor Reynolds,

We are writing in support of the S.A.F.E Center proposal. UnityPoint Des Moines Emergency Departments currently provide frontline care for sexual assault patients from across the state by way of a medical evaluation, performed by an Emergency Medicine provider, followed by a sexual assault nurse exam (SANE), performed by a specialized sexual assault nurse. Limited sexual assault nurse coverage is currently provided by Polk County. Surrounding counties in the state have more limited or no sexual assault nurse coverage. This, along with the downstream challenges of ED boarding, results in sexual assault patients being forced to wait hours and hours to be seen for care. Because of these unavoidable realities sexual assault patients often leave without being seen before an examination can be done by either a medical provider or a SANE nurse.

A vast majority of sexual assault patients do not require hospital level medical services but only forensic services. As such, it is unnecessary for local Emergency Departments to serve as the gatekeeper for the forensic evaluation. By intertwining these services unnecessary delays and logistical barriers are introduced. It is also worth noting that Emergency Medicine Physicians, Ob/Gyn Physicians, hospital nurses, nor any other medical providers in hospitals are trained to perform these exams and the associated legal chain of custody procedures. These exams require highly specialized and time intensive training for which there is no infrastructure or requirements for hospitals to provide. As such hospitals do not provide this training nor would it be tenable for them to do so. Despite this, the only locations where patients can currently obtain access to these services is through local hospitals and Emergency Departments where long wait times and a chaotic environment await them. There is a better way.

The S.A.F.E center proposal would provide these patients 24/7 access to the services they need in their moment of crisis as well as the associated wrap around services they will need in follow up. This multidisciplinary approach is a significant improvement over the fragmented care being provided in local Emergency Departments.

Emergency Departments will always be available for the small number of sexual assault patients who need emergent medical cares but for the vast majority of sexual assault patients the S.A.F.E Center can provide all the services needed in a timelier and more appropriate environment.

Sincerely,

Clint Hawthorne MD
Jill Heilskov RN, MSN, NE-BC
Medical Director
Executive Nurse Director
Emergency Department
ED/ICU/Trauma
UnityPoint Des Moines
UnityPoint Des Moines
Clint.hawthorne@unitypoint.org
jill.heilskov@unitypoint.org

Ankeny Police Department

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January 7,2025

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Darius Potts, and I am the Chief of Police for the Ankeny Police Department. I am writing to express the full support of the Ankeny Police Department for the SAFE Center of Iowa.

During my previous law enforcement experience with the Phoenix Police Department, I had the privilege of working in a jurisdiction with a similar facility. This experience gave me firsthand insight into the immense benefits such a center provides to both victims and law enforcement.

Facilities like the SAFE Center play a vital role in reducing the already traumatizing experience for victims of crime, offering a compassionate and supportive environment. By consolidating critical services in a single location, these centers streamline the investigative process and provide victims with access to necessary resources in a setting designed to prioritize their well-being.

For our detectives, the SAFE Center represents a significant advantage—a "one-stop shop" that enhances efficiency while ensuring thorough investigations. This approach not only aids in building stronger cases but also allows officers to focus on their primary responsibility: seeking justice for victims.

The Ankeny Police Department recognizes the critical need for a facility like the SAFE Center in our community. Its presence would strengthen our collective efforts to serve and protect while fostering trust and healing for those impacted by crime.

Thank you for your dedication to this essential initiative. Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can provide further information or assistance.

Sincerely,
Darius Potts
Chief of Police
Ankeny Police Department

Central Iowa Trauma Recovery Center

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2580 Fleur Dr. Suite 240
Des Moines, IA 50321
515.244.5372
www.centraliowatrc.com

August 17, 2022

The Honorable Kim Reynolds
Governor
State Capitol
Des Moines, IA 50319

Dear Governor Reynolds:

The Central Iowa Trauma Recovery Center (CITRC) is pleased to submit this letter of support on behalf of the initiative proposed by 5.1.5 FoReNsics.

As a full-service trauma recovery center for survivors of violent crime that provides free mental health, clinical care coordination, and medication management. we are committed to removing barriers. This proposed initiative accomplishes that objective for survivors of sexual assault. It is our expressed vision to elevate the standard of care for survivors in Iowa. Due to the fragmented interventions currently in place for sexual assault survivors, many fall through the cracks, further delaying their ability to heal and recover. We see the need for sexual assault survivors to have this additional resource.

We support the effort to align and reimagine services to survivors. Sexual assault survivors deserve the level of comprehensive and client centered care that this initiative will provide for them and their families. As our collective research has shown, this type of service delivery reduces emergency room visits, further injuries and offers greater continuity of care across systems.

515 FoReNsics is an unparalleled leader in the field of forensic nursing. They have established the highest standard of care for Iowa’s medical treatment of sexual assault survivors and the collection of forensic evidence from our most vulnerable and traumatized populations.

This letter of recommendation comes with our full measure of support, and we encourage your thoughtful consideration. CITRC looks forward to a collaboration that elevates the standard of care for all survivors in Iowa.

Best regards,

Alyson R. Simmons, CNPM, CA
Founder | Executive Director
Central Iowa Trauma Recovery Center

Hancock County Sheriff

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February 7, 2023

My name is Rob Gerdes, and I am the Hancock County Sheriff. I have been in law enforcement for over 25 years. I truly see the need for more assistance with sexual assault investigations on the law enforcement side of things. Over my career I feel that we are doing a much better job of investigating these crimes. Some of the issues we do run into is the lack of SANE nurses in our rural areas.

I will explain one of the last situations that we encountered during an investigation. The victim reported to our local hospital for an examination. Law enforcement did not escort the victim because they were working on a search warrant along with interviewing the suspect. The victim waited at the hospital for a lengthy amount of time. Unfortunately, our local hospital couldn’t provide a SANE nurse. The hospital did what they could with their limited resources. They called several hospitals in the north central Iowa area. The victim did not want to be seen in the Mason City hospital. One local hospital in a neighboring county would not do the examination because of evidence chain of custody issues. We hopefully have that resolved. The only option that was available was for the victim to go to Ames. The victim decided that she did not want an examination after all of that.

The next day we located a SANE nurse in Humboldt that was more than willing to assist us. We reached back out to the victim and the examination took place. There was an arrest in that case.

The county attorney and I attended a meeting with our local hospital. Sara Hulen from the Attorney General Office was on the phone for the meeting. Sara helped us very much during the meeting and after. We believe that we have a better plan going forward in regard to the use of a SANE nurse.

One concern I have is if we change something that only allows a SANE nurse to provide the examination. If a provider is willing to do it and a SANE nurse is not available, I think we should still get it done.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Robert Gerdes Jr.

Lighthouse Foundation

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1/7/2025

To Whom It May Concern,

The Lighthouse Foundation is honored to provide this letter of support for the SAFE Center, a critical resource for the care and recovery of victims of sexual assault and human trafficking in our community.

As an organization dedicated to educating middle and high school students, as well as entire communities across Iowa, about the realities and prevention of human trafficking, we have seen firsthand the profound need for specialized, trauma-informed services like those provided by the SAFE Center. The SAFE Center's compassionate and professional approach to forensic examinations offers essential care to survivors of all ages, including those who have been trafficked. This support not only aids in the immediate physical and emotional recovery of victims but also plays a vital role in the pursuit of justice by preserving crucial evidence.

Furthermore, the SAFE Center's services align with the Lighthouse Foundation's mission to not only educate but also to provide resources for survivors as they rebuild their lives. By offering a safe and supportive environment for forensic exams, the SAFE Center helps to empower survivors, reaffirming their dignity and worth in the healing process. Their work ensures that victims receive the care they deserve while remaining a cornerstone of community collaboration against sexual violence and exploitation.

We firmly believe that the continued operation and expansion of the SAFE Center is essential for the well-being of trafficking victims and survivors throughout our state. We fully support the SAFE Center's efforts and look forward to continued collaboration in serving those affected by these traumatic experiences.

Sincerely,

Brittany Sowder
Founder and President
The Lighthouse Foundation

TLHF2025@gmail.com

Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team

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To whom it may concern,

I am writing today in support of the proposal addressing the need for continuity in sexual assault testing and support services. This is a very important service that warrants immediate attention to ensure quality treatment to victims and design consistent protocols in testing procedures and evidence collection.

Over my twenty-five-year career, I have witnessed firsthand the failure of systemic processes and procedures to secure truth and justice for victims. It is heart wrenching to see the countenance of victims fall when justice is not upheld due to a failure to uphold the highest integrity in the evidence collection process. Not only does this provide outcomes that are unacceptable, but it also further victimizes the very people it is meant to protect.

It is well documented that the most grossly underreported crime is sexual assault. Victims tend to avoid reporting offenses due to the stigma of their trauma. They have been humiliated, their dignity has been stripped away, and they report feeling shame and guilt.

Guilty of a crime that has been committed against them. This is a terrible injustice to victims, and it is proper to correct protocols to protect the innocent from further victimization. By implementing this proposal, integrity in the process can be restored and our hope is that victims and professionals can have faith in the process once again.

By centralizing this specialized care, victims will be treated with the highest degree of respect and their confidentiality will be much easier to maintain. A cross-disciplinary trauma responsive approach would support better long-term health outcomes. There is clear evidence that victims that experience sexual trauma are less likely to attend follow up appointments with health care professionals. It is also well known that survivors of sexual trauma don’t feel safe attending gynecological care and annual health exams. Understandably, this can trigger trauma responses that are rooted in their original victimization.

I understand that this proposal may not be perfect in addressing all the concerns surrounding treatment and medical care for victims of sexual trauma. However, it is very comprehensive and allows us to start the process and have conversations.

I served as a county supervisor during the era of mental health redesign. It has been very gratifying to see the shortfalls and gaps in services be corrected. Through regionalization this was possible. On a micro scale this redesign for S.A.N.E. can duplicate the process that we know has been proven effective.

I appreciate you taking time to read my thoughts. I look forward to further conversations to move this process forward. I am in this for the long haul and plan to see it through to its much-needed end.

Regards,

Mark Doland

Mark Doland, MMFT
Community Advocate, Marshalltown Police and Community Team

Polk County Board of Supervisors

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May 11, 2026

To Whom It May Concern:

I am proud to express my strong unequivocal support for the SAFE Center of Iowa and its mission to ensure survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking have access to timely, trauma-informed, survivor-centered care.

Every survivor deserves access to compassionate medical and forensic services delivered with dignity, expertise, and coordination. Unfortunately, many individuals across Iowa continue to face significant barriers to accessing specialized care, particularly in rural and underserved communities where Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) services remain limited or unavailable. Survivors are often forced to wait extended periods for care, travel long distances, or navigate already overwhelmed emergency departments during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

The SAFE Center of Iowa is addressing these critical gaps through an innovative statewide model focused on coordinated, multidisciplinary, and patient-centered services. The organization’s work will strengthen access to 24/7 medical forensic care, advocacy, mental health support, and coordinated community response efforts while helping alleviate strain on hospital emergency departments and local systems already operating under significant pressure.

Importantly, the SAFE Center’s first location — the statewide Center of Excellence — will be located in Polk County within the Des Moines metropolitan area. This location will serve as the hub of Iowa’s first statewide hub-and-spoke model dedicated to coordinated medical forensic and survivor support services, helping expand access to care throughout both urban and rural communities across Iowa. Polk County is proud to serve as the home of this pioneering effort and recognizes the significant impact this model can have on improving outcomes for survivors statewide.

As local elected leader I recognize that violence and trauma impact not only individual survivors, but the overall health, safety, and wellbeing of our communities. The SAFE Center’s commitment to collaboration with healthcare systems, law enforcement, advocates, prosecutors, and community partners reflects the type of coordinated response necessary to improve outcomes for survivors and strengthen public safety across Iowa.

Polk County is proud to support initiatives that improve community health, expand access to essential services, and create meaningful long-term impact for Iowans. The SAFE Center of Iowa represents a critical investment in the health and safety infrastructure of our state and will serve as an important resource for survivors, families, healthcare professionals, and community partners alike.

I strongly encourage continued support for the SAFE Center of Iowa and its efforts to expand access to expert, trauma-informed care for survivors throughout Iowa.

Sincerely,

Matt McCoy
Chair, Polk County Board of Supervisors
COUNTY OF POLK
Board of Supervisors
111 Court Ave, Suite 300
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2214
Ph. 515.286.3120
Fax. 515.323.5225
www.polkcountyiowa.gov
Matt McCoy, 1st District, Chair
Ph 515.330.5952
matt.mccoy@polkcountyiowa.gov

Polk County Sheriff’s Office

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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Kevin J. Schneider

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters Phone (515) 286-3814

5995 NE 14th Street Fax (515) 875-5579

Des Moines, Iowa 50313-2517 www.polkcountyiowa.gov/sheriff

January 7, 2025

To Whom It May Concern:

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is supportive of the SAFE Center of Iowa and its efforts to secure funding to establish free-standing sexual assault clinics in our state. As envisioned by SAFE Center of Iowa, each regional clinic will be staffed by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Nurses and will provide access to a wide variety of wrap-around services, such as infectious disease prevention and treatment, sexual assault advocacy, counseling services, law enforcement support, and legal system navigation.

This model has proven to be successful and has led to dramatically improved patient and public health outcomes in other states.

The stated goal of the SAFE Center of Iowa is to start with a primary SAFE Center clinic in the Des Moines Metro and then expand throughout Iowa, ultimately to offer immediate care to victims, with the option of follow-up appointment.

From a law enforcement perspective, this will benefit victims, as well as law enforcement agencies, in that the sexual assault kits can be relied upon to be collected appropriately by trained professionals and will help in successful investigations.

I believe the SAFE Center of Iowa and its plan to be in the best interests of all Iowans and support its efforts moving forward.

Thank you for your consideration.

Kevin J. Schneider

Polk County Sheriff

Spencer Hospital

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Spencer Hospital
Healthier Together.

1200 First Avenue East
SpencerHospital.org
Spencer, Iowa 51301
(712) 264-8300

April 1, 2025

Shannon Knudsen, SAFE Center

Dear Shannon and SAFE Center Board of Directors,

On behalf of Spencer Hospital, I am writing to express our enthusiastic support for the SAFE Center proposal. As a healthcare institution dedicated to the well-being and recovery of our patients, we recognize the critical need for safe, supportive environments where survivors of sexual assault can heal both physically and emotionally.

We wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the SAFE Center to provide comprehensive care and support to survivors in and around our community. Additionally, we strongly support the establishment of a SAFE Center satellite clinic in our community, as our hospital's mission and values closely align with those of the SAFE Center.

At Spencer Hospital, our Emergency Department often serves as the initial point of contact for victims of sexual assault. We witness firsthand the significant barriers survivors face in accessing the care and support they need, including limited access to specialized services. The presence of a dedicated sexual assault clinic staffed with SANE nurses would greatly benefit survivors, enhancing our efforts to provide them with quality care. Furthermore, we recognize the immense need for expanding SANE nurse training programs.

We believe that a SAFE Center satellite clinic would be an invaluable resource for the Spencer community. While Spencer Hospital and our Emergency Department will always be available for sexual assault patients requiring emergent medical care, we are eager to collaborate with the SAFE Center in Des Moines, IA, and fully support the establishment of a satellite office in our community. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Brenda Tiefenthaler, RN, MSN/MHA
President/CEO
Spencer Hospital
1200 First Ave East
712-264-6114

Urbandale Police Department

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URBANDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT
3740 86th Street
Urbandale, Iowa 50322-4016
Ph: 515-278-3938 Fax: 515-278-3939

Governor Kim Reynolds

August 17th, 2022

I am Detective Don Vestal with the Urbandale Police Department. I joined the department in 1988 and I have served the department as a full-time officer since 1993. Serving in various capacities over the years, I was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division in 2012. My primary duties are investigations involving victims of children sexual and physical abuse, adult domestic violence, and adult sexual abuse. There has been no greater service and commitment as I have experienced than working with so many amazing victims and their families I have learned the difficulty and further trauma victims have experienced as part of their disclosure to medical staff, police, and legal members.

Being a victim of these types of crimes in and by itself is traumatic in many ways. From the actual assault, reporting, medical examinations, waiting weeks and months for the completion of the investigation, and then the long prosecution process.

After all of the struggles of deciding to report, the victim's first experience is a visit to a local emergency room. There they are met with medical staff that is not trained in the procedures of a proper, sexual forensic examination. The ER staff contacts a specialized team of nurses and advocacy for the victims.

This specialized staff is not part of the ER staff and responds to the request. Victims have to wait in a ER room until the proper staff arrives to complete the examination. Once the examination is complete, victims are expected to provide a statement from the same table and in the same room where they were just examined. Often times, officers respond to the ER and most are not educated and experienced in providing a proper Trauma Informed Interview with the victim. Once released from the ER victims are again called upon by law enforcement for additional interviews. These interviews are generally done in the same interview rooms that are used for the interrogations of offenders or are completed in a general conference room. These are not proper locations for speaking with victims experiencing such trauma.

A complete team of medical professionals, advocates, law enforcement, DHS, and prosecuting staff are needed for a successful investigation and victim care. Involving each of these teams requires the victim additional stress having to coordinate the needs of each service with each being located at a different place and being completed on various dates.

I am in hopes of there being a future center of some type to improve the experience of each victim, their families and reduce their trauma. The most important aspect of a proper investigation is the care for a victim and building their trust.

I have always tried to improve the services for each victim in any way I have been able. I have often expressed the need of the proper space for trauma victims in our department. I made it known that interviews in an ER setting are poor practices often times resulting in partial or what may appear to be inconsistent statements.

Requiring the victim to seek the specialized attention they need through so many different spaces is overwhelming to them. I see the need for a centralized facility to provide all of the needed services for each victim and their family.

I have used the term adult because there is already such a service in place for children known as the Blank Children's STAR Center (Support Team for Achieving Resiliency). Similar practices and services provided by the STAR Center would be a much-needed improvement in the adult trauma services.

Adult victims are often less resilient than children, but we expect and require more from them, and it is difficult for victims to coordinate their care through various disciplines required in each investigation.

I imagine a trauma center for adult victims to include medical care, mental care, safe spaces for communication, and continual care, support and education for each victim experiencing the trauma of the long difficult process of proper investigations and prosecution.

Thank you for the opportunity of sharing my thoughts. I appreciate you understanding the continual need for improving services to all victims.

Respectfully submitted,

West Des Moines Police Department

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August 16th, 2022

Governor Reynolds,

Hello. My name is Jason Hatcher, and I am a Detective with the City of West Des Moines Police Department and have been for over twenty-three (23) years. I am currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU), and my main focus of Investigations are Crimes Against Persons, specifically Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Investigations.

Over the course of the last seven (7) years, I have found that my case load is almost doubling with the number of Sexual Assaults being reported. Victims of these criminal acts include adults and children. I work directly with the Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T.) in the Des Moines Metro area and I have found that all members are vital to my investigations.

I want to point out that a sexual assault investigation often takes weeks and/or months to investigate and I have found that the Des Moines Metro area needs to improve where the victims can go and/or turn to in order to make the process easier and more comfortable. I believe that by creating a center for Survivors and their Families would allow them to feel more comfortable and make things a little easier on them, as the process is long. Also, by having a center large enough to support nurses, counselors, advocates and having rooms where interviews can take place, would ‘ease the fear’ for the Survivors. It would allow these investigations to take place in one area and the corroboration between everyone working for the Survivor would be easier and more sustainable.

Please consider creating a ‘safe place’ such as Sexual Assault Center in the Des Moines Metro. It’s about time we create a calming and safe place for the Survivors, as the numbers will only continue to grow.

Thank-You for your time,

Detective Jason Hatcher #170

Office: 515 222-3316

Cell: 515 208-5090

Fax: 515 222-3331

August 16th, 2022

Governor Reynolds,

Hello. My name is Jason Hatcher, and I am a Detective with the City of West Des Moines Police Department and have been for over twenty-three (23) years. I am currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU), and my main focus of Investigations are Crimes Against Persons, specifically Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Investigations.

Over the course of the last seven (7) years, I have found that my case load is almost doubling with the number of Sexual Assaults being reported. Victims of these criminal acts include adults and children. I work directly with the Sexual Assault Response Team (S.A.R.T.) in the Des Moines Metro area and I have found that all members are vital to my investigations.

I want to point out that a sexual assault investigation often takes weeks and/or months to investigate and I have found that the Des Moines Metro area needs to improve where the victims can go and/or turn to in order to make the process easier and more comfortable. I believe that by creating a center for Survivors and their Families would allow them to feel more comfortable and make things a little easier on them, as the process is long. Also, by having a center large enough to support nurses, counselors, advocates and having rooms where interviews can take place, would ‘ease the fear’ for the Survivors. It would allow these investigations to take place in one area and the corroboration between everyone working for the Survivor would be easier and more sustainable.

Please consider creating a ‘safe place’ such as Sexual Assault Center in the Des Moines Metro. It’s about time we create a calming and safe place for the Survivors, as the numbers will only continue to grow.

Thank-You for your time,

Detective Jason Hatcher #170

Office: 515 222-3316

Cell: 515 208-5090

Fax: 515 222-3331

Police Department

250 Mills Civic Pkwy
P.O. Box 65320
West Des Moines, IA 50265-0320

Emergency
9-1-1 24 Hour Dispatch Center
515-222-3321 Support Services Division
Information/Records
515-222-3320 Chief’s Office
515-222-3300 Community Education & Outreach
515-222-3389 Patrol Division
515-222-3394 FAX 515-222-3331 Email: police@wdm.iowa.gov

www.wdm.iowa.gov

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies

Police Department

250 Mills Civic Pkwy
P.O. Box 65320
West Des Moines, IA 50265-0320

Emergency
9-1-1 24 Hour Dispatch Center
515-222-3321 Support Services Division
Information/Records
515-222-3320 Chief’s Office
515-222-3300 Community Education & Outreach
515-222-3389 Patrol Division
515-222-3394 FAX 515-222-3331 Email: police@wdm.iowa.gov

www.wdm.iowa.gov

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies

Winterset Police Department

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Winterset Police Department
Ken Burk, Chief of Police
1012 N John Wayne Drive
Winterset IA 50273
Phone: (515)462-1423
Fax: (515)462-3684

February 6th, 2023
Michael McDonald, AG CVAD,
1305 E. Walnut Street
Des Moines, Ia. 50319

In regards to the discussion about the need for SANE nurses in rural areas of the state, our department is in full support and agreement of a sexual assault response center for the State of Iowa. Having the availability of a SANE nurse is a huge priority for smaller communities like ours. More availability of training will always help smaller departments.

In 2020 our officers and I investigated a case of a sexual assault in our city. We transported the victim to the Madison County Hospital Emergency Department. We then learned that the hospital did not have anyone trained as a SANE nurse. The victim was advised that she could be taken to a Des Moines hospital for the exam. Due to other circumstances, she did not want to make the trip to Des Moines. She just wanted it all over with.

We fortunately obtained a conviction in that case, but had the case hinged heavily on a sexual assault exam, we would have lost the case, or not even have been able to file charges. After that case, we had some good discussions with hospital staff and they immediately sent two nurses to get certified as SANE nurses. Eight months later we received a report of a sexual assault and were able to have the victim go to the Madison County Hospital for an exam by a SANE. This was a huge benefit in that because the victim didn't have to travel 45 minutes away, we had in-person access to the victim and family for any specific questions regarding evidence. It also helped the victim and family feel better knowing we were close.

Madison County Hospital now has three SANE nurses. We are fortunate to have them.

Captain Roger Shortt
Winterset Police Department