Director of University Police Services Adam Garcia has been chosen as one of 19 law enforcement executives from across the country to participate in a National Law Enforcement Leadership Institute on Violence Against Women hosted by The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Through the Institute experience, IACP intends to raise the response to violence against women crimes higher on law enforcement's agenda and support the adoption of best practices by University of Nevada Police Services officers.

During the three-day Institute taking place in Madison, Wis., Garcia, along with the other selected participants, will explore innovative approaches for investigating crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Additional attention will center on assessing agency performance and sharing challenges and solutions with law enforcement colleagues.

In an effort to help law enforcement agencies enhance their response to crimes of violence against women, the Institute will focus on planning and methods for effective resource allocation to assist crime victims and hold perpetrators accountable. The participating law enforcement executives will be engaged in the development of action plans throughout the Institute in order to employ new strategies for pro-active coordinated collaboration with their communities upon returning to their departments.

The expenses for participants to attend the Leadership Institute are covered under a grant to the IACP from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women.