After the temporary closure of OUSAP, the university and city of Athens have created guidelines to better help law enforcement handle cases of sexual assault.
Law enforcement in Athens and at Ohio University will have more precise guidelines when it comes to reporting, investigating and communicating about sexual assault after an appendix was added Wednesday to the City-University Memorandum of Understanding.
The appendix, which was authorized by OU President Roderick McDavis and Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl, formalizes the commitment between OU’s and Athens’ law enforcement agencies to communicate with survivor advocates, according to a university news release.
The agreement details that officers will have knowledge of the “latest best practices for sexual assault investigations” and creates a process for the Athens Police Department to communicate with OU offices in cases that affect students, faculty and staff.
The appendix also serves as a way to standardize the sexual assault and relationship-based violence investigation process between city and university law enforcement to reduce differences survivors may experience, according to the release.
“I am pleased to be able to sign this MOU appendix for the protection and support of victims of sexual misconduct,” McDavis said in the release. “Ohio University remains fully committed to addressing serious threats to our students on campus and in the community.”
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The agreement comes after OU’s Survivor Advocacy Program temporarily closed in November after it was left without a licensed and credentialed program coordinator following the departure of the office’s previous program coordinator, Delaney Anderson, in October.
The university started a search to replace Anderson’s position in November.
The application for that role will be posted on OU’s site until Dec. 15, according to a previous Post report.
“The City of Athens Police Department works collaboratively with the Ohio University Police Department, and this is one more excellent tool for law enforcement,” Wiehl said in the release. “Within this document it is set forth that both law enforcement entities will continue to operate and collaborate for the benefit of the community as a whole. This agreement, combined with our existing mutual aid agreement, establishes a strong relationship as we improve operations and outreach to victims of sexual assault and other covered crimes.”
The memorandum of understanding was created in 2012 to formalize and strengthen the relationship between the university and city. It is expected to be renewed by McDavis and Mayor-elect Steve Patterson for an additional four years, according to the release.
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