Overflowing With Boxes
Right after I was sworn in to serve on Billings City Council in 2018, I toured the then Police Evidence Facility. It was a Quonset building that was overloaded with criminal evidence. One section in particular was overflowing with boxes from one end of the building to the next and stacked on shelving almost ceiling high. Much of the tour was shocking, but this section was the most. This is where the sexual assault kits were held. Contained within each packing box I could see were multiple sexual assault kits. The vast number of kits being stored was beyond shocking.
Sexual assault is a violent crime. A Sexual Assault Nurse Exam is an invasive process that provides a victim one of the greatest tools for justice for the violence experienced. Without that kit being tested by a crime lab, the victim's opportunity for justice is dramatically lessened.
As the tour ended, I asked ACOP House and Lt. Hart, outside of my vote on City Council, what could I do to support their work? Without hesitation and without looking at one another, both said at the same time:
"Sexual assault."
They went on to educate me about the need to address the backlog at the state crime lab for processing sexual assault kits and the prevalence of the crime in our city and state.
In the 2019 MT State Legislative Session, the City of Billings supported funding by the state for a new state crime lab to be built in Billings and a bill that required sexual assault kits to be processed within a specific time frame. The bill also provided for victims to have knowledge of when their kits were being processed.
ACOP House was critical to my education on what needed to be fixed within a broken system for victims of sexual assault.
I am so proud of him and the BPD that stepped up to help educate me and other policy makers on what needed to be changed for sex crime victims. Throughout my 4 years on Billings City Council, ACOP House always made time for my questions, provided me with information, and recognized my desire to learn. He was outstanding to work with and I valued every opportunity I got to talk with him. He is as professional as they come and has the heart of a true public servant.
Congratulations on your retirement, ACOP House! Well earned and well deserved. I can't wait to learn what's next for you! Always know that I'll be cheering you on! Thank you for your service.
