City of Seaside Response to Rape Kit Processing in Monterey County*

- LEAs in Monterey County lacked awareness and provided unclear and inconsistent information as to whether there are any backlogged rape kits. As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City disagrees wholly with this finding. The SSPD meticulously tracks and is fully aware of the status of sexual assault rape kits that have been collected in connection with investigations led by the SSPD.

- The lack of a centralized place to post information has resulted in a lack of consistency in the way that LEAs manage and track sexual assaults. Include, Innovate, Inspire As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City disagrees wholly with this finding. The SSPD participates in a monthly meeting with other law enforcement agencies, and the District Attorney's Office, to coordinate sexual assault investigations. The SSPD is part of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), which works with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) during the investigation. DNA evidence obtained is submitted to the Rapid DNA Service (RADS). Additionally, the SSPD reports the status of sexual assault forensic evidence through the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Tracking (SAFE-T) to the California Department of Justice, as is required by PC 680.4.

– At the beginning of this investigation, not all the LEAs were prepared to report the Rape Kit status information to the CDOJ as required by PC 680.4. As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City disagrees wholly to this finding. The SSPD has reported the Rape Kit status information to the CDOJ as required by PC 680.4.

- There is advanced training available for sexual assault investigators, but LEAs are instead relying upon senior investigators to provide "on the job training to other investigators within their respective departments." As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City disagrees wholly with this finding. The SSPD sends all detectives to a Sexual Assault Investigator Course when assigned to the SSPD Investigations Division. The three detectives assigned to the SSPD Investigations Division have all completed the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Police, Institute of Criminal Investigation (ICI) Sexual Assault Investigator Course.

- Training for advanced skills in the forensics of sexual assault investigations is not prioritized in the budgeting process. As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City disagrees wholly with this finding. The City of Seaside and SSPD place a significant emphasis on professional development and specialized training, as reflected in our budget ($117,950). We ensure our detectives have the most relevant training available and our budget supports it.

- Some LEAs rely on cross-training less experienced patrol officers to supplement understaffed investigative teams rather than prioritizing the strategic increase of well-trained investigators. As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City disagrees wholly with this finding. The SSPD prioritizes sexual assault investigation training for our detectives. Moreover, the SSPD has officers that were previously assigned as detectives and attended the sexual assault investigation training who are currently assigned to patrol.

– All jurisdictions can expedite the investigations of rape crimes through access to the RADS processing to facilitate timely resolution of rape cases. As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City agrees with this finding. The SSPD has access to and utilizes the RADS processing system.

– Most LEAs in Monterey County have implemented DNA testing protocols established by the CDOJ which have reduced the likelihood of unprocessed DNA evidence. As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City agrees with this finding. The SSPD has implemented DNA testing protocols that are in compliance with CDOJ.

– There is no centralized authority coordinating all LEAs in Monterey County regarding collection, processing and reporting of sexual assaults. As it relates to the City of Seaside, the City disagrees wholly with this finding. The SSPD complies with all state mandates and employs contemporary best practices to investigate sexual assaults. The SSPD attends monthly meetings with other Monterey County Sexual Assault Investigators, including the District Attorney, to share information and coordinate any investigations which might involve other jurisdictions.