The Chattanooga Police Department was awarded the 2021 recipient of the IACP Leadership in Victim Services Award - Midsize Agency. This international award recognizes CPD’s excellence in providing services to crime victims by integrating current best practices into all facets of the department. The Leadership in Victim Services Award is the first International Association of Chiefs of Police annual award, in any category, the CPD has been honored with since the department’s inception.
According to IACP criteria, nominees in the Leadership in Victim Services category should demonstrate an innovative approach to meeting the needs of crime victims within their communities and showcase a program that has been fully implemented or is in the process of being fully implemented into their agency.
In its letter of notification, IACP President Cynthia Renaud stated the CPD Victim Services Unit was chosen as the 2021 midsize agency award recipient because, “The Chattanooga Police Department is an exemplary police agency and leader in the field of community safety.”
The CPD VSU was created in 2016 to respond to crime victims’ psychological, physiological and emotional needs. This has been and continues to be achieved through crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, education, information and referral for victims of crime and trauma, witnesses and the community at large. The overall goal of the CPD Victim Services Unit is to collaborate with officers, investigators, and community partners to create a network of care and support for victims of violence in our City.
“The CPD Victim Services Unit has grown from a department of one to now six professional staff members,” said Chief David Roddy. “This growth is indicative of the need for this service in our community. I couldn’t be more proud of their unwavering commitment to crime victims as well as the positive impact they’ve had on CPD Officers and their support of victims, survivors, and their families.”
The VSU is one of just a few in Tennessee to be entirely integrated with its law enforcement agency. This incorporation was done deliberately in order to facilitate a more streamlined approach throughout the investigation and judicial processes and beyond. This structure and the work of the VSU advocates have resulted in more than 40,000 services provided to nearly 2,000 victims of crime since 2016. The VSU and CPD have also been honored with the following for their care and dedication:
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Case Study / Site: Promising Practices in Law Enforcement Victim Support with The IACP (2021)
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FBI’s ELEVATE Project as a Promising Practice Agency & Mentor (2018 - Present)
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Human Smuggling / Trafficking Case of the Year for Homeland Security Investigations (2018)
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Voices for Victims Award - TDOC (2018)
The CPD will receive the Leadership in Victim Services - Midsize Agency Award at the 2021 IACP Annual Conference and Exposition on Sept. 14 in New Orleans.