This week, a multi-layered approach to law enforcement training in Iowa:

Iowa employs a tripartite system to ensure that all law enforcement personnel in the state receive education and support on the proper response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.  At the first level, law enforcement cadets attending the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) receive training on documenting and investigating crimes of violence against women using a curriculum funded with STOP dollars.  The majority of law enforcement recruits attend the academy; delivery of the Violence Against Women (VAW) Curriculum at ILEA ensures that nearly all new officers in law enforcement agencies around the state are grounded in approaches to these crimes that are proven and proper.  The curriculum is taught by a seasoned lead VAW Instructor and Coordinator.  The Instructor/Coordinator, whose salary is paid with STOP funds, has over 40 years of law enforcement experience in both rural and urban settings. 

Over the years, the curriculum has continued to expand and become a larger part of the overall cadet training.  In 2009, the VAW Curriculum comprised more than 56 hours of the 13-week basic law enforcement training.  It includes scenario-based training, in which cadets respond to a simulated domestic violence crime scene and are critiqued and graded by seasoned law enforcement officers on their response and investigative skills.  In addition, the program has utilized virtual reality Firearms Training System (FATS) modules on domestic violence that provide additional, experiential learning opportunities to officers. 

The second level of this statewide approach is training for all Iowa law enforcement personnel.  The ILEA trainer travels[1] to local communities to provide training to law enforcement agencies – including officers, investigators, and leadership. The ILEA trainer always includes the local victim service agency in the training program.  Multiple training sessions are provided in one day to a department, allowing the maximum number of officers possible to be trained.  This also prevents the necessity of overtime pay.  The approach ensures that sworn officers, investigators, and leadership across the state receive standardized training on the same topics and techniques as do law enforcement recruits but which they would not otherwise receive due to lack of resources. 

The third level is the availability of ongoing technical assistance to all law enforcement, victim service advocates, prosecutors, medical personnel and other professionals on violence against women issues.  For example, if a community-based victim service agency is having difficulties working with its local law enforcement agency, staff can call the ILEA VAW Instructor for insight and assistance with developing a strategy to improve collaboration and coordination.  The Instructor can also call the local law enforcement agency and offer to conduct a local training for its officers.