nterviews with victims, witnesses, and suspects. POLICY: The Cleveland Division of Police shall accept all reports of sexual assault. Furthermore, being that victims of sexual assault often suffer an emotional trauma that is distinctive to that particular type of crime, officers shall demonstrate a heightened degree of sensitivity to such victims so as to promote the victim’s emotional well-being and aid in the subsequent investigation and prosecution of the crime. A victim’s distress may create an unwillingness or psychological inability to assist in the investigation. Officers and investigators play a significant role in both the victim’s willingness to cooperate in the investigation and ability to cope with the emotional and psychological after effects of the crime. Therefore, it is especially important that these cases be handled from a nonjudgmental perspective so as not to communicate in any way to a victim that the victim is to blame for the crime. The Division of Police also recognizes that trace evidence is one of the most important factors to a successful sexual assault investigation and prosecution. Therefore, a timely and uniform standard of collecting, submitting, and preserving sexual assault evidence shall be considered a high priority.