Nampa police say nobody has used sexual assault reporting app since it was launched

NAMPA, Idaho — The Nampa Police Department launched the "Seek Then Speak" app in October of 2018.

The intent is for survivors of sexual assault to look at what their options are in an anonymous way and decide on how to proceed forward.

"If they have questions about getting a forensic medical exam, related to a sexual assault investigation, the app will walk them through their options of what it looks like to go to the hospital, what it looks like to report anonymously from a Jane or John Doe, what the actual exam consists of so they can have those answers," Angela Weeks with the Nampa Police Department said.

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Sexual assault survivors living anywhere can use the app but for those that live in Nampa, the app will automatically generate a police report with the Nampa Police Department - if that's what the victim wants.

"The app will then complete a police report based on the information and give it to the Nampa police where trauma informed investigators will then follow up with the victim," Weeks said.

The app will also direct users to the Nampa Family Justice Center as well.

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"It's all confidential," Jeannie Strohmeyer with the Nampa Family Justice Center said. "Nothing they say is going to be reported unless they want it reported. We have resources here, we have help, we have counseling, we have group support, we have all types of things that are free for them."

But in the year since the app launched, no one has used it.

Strohmeyer says that's not because sexual assault isn't happening.

"One in three women, sometime in their lifetime, will be sexually assaulted and one in six men," Strohmeyer said. "So, it's a significant problem in our community and most people don't report because they don't know what's going to happen in the process."

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The Nampa Police Department has recently put up posters and passed out flyers on NNU and the College of Western Idaho campuses to better reach students.

"I'm really concerned there has not been enough education about this free trauma informed resource that is available for the community, so we just want to get the word out there," Weeks said.