Brighton and Commerce City Police Departments introduce

Published on April 03, 2024

Both the Brighton and Commerce City Police Departments are implementing Seek Then Speak, an online tool to help sexual assault survivors access information when they need it and start reporting when they are ready.

“By providing various options to reporting, survivors have broader access to justice and healing. Most sexual assault victims never report the crime to law enforcement, and those who do face significant barriers when engaging with the criminal justice system,” said Brighton Police Chief Matt Domenico.

Brighton Police Department and Commerce City Police Department have had a combined Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF), as well as a shared victim services unit, for several years. Together, this team takes a victim-centered, offender-focused approach to investigating sexual assaults in both cities.

“Our hope with the implementation of this tool is that it will empower survivors with the information and resources they need in order to begin to move forward in a way they feel most comfortable with,” said Commerce City Police Chief Darrel Guadnola.

Seek Then Speak is a free online tool developed by End Violence Against Women International. Accessible on any device with internet connectivity, the tool is divided into two key functions:

SEEK- Provides sexual assault survivors and those supporting them with a way to privately gather information and explore options for medical care, supportive services, and reporting to law enforcement.
SPEAK - Provides survivors with a detailed, self-guided interview that can be completed at their own pace, and in as much or as little detail as they are comfortable with.

This new tool can be accessed online by survivors and those supporting them at any time and place. If a survivor begins reporting, a PDF document will be generated that they can download to their own device to be saved, and then they can choose to email it to law enforcement, print it and provide it in person to the appropriate department, or give it to a sexual assault advocacy center to submit to police on their behalf.