Page 20 - Texas Police Journal November- December 2013

There must be a coordination of community that help is available. Building victim survivor
advocates. For example, members who assist in groups and programs is the key to helping
helping victims of stalking in the recovery victims realize that they have a voice through
process could be from the local women’s shelter, this difficult time.
the district attorney’s office, Texas CrimeVictim’s This plan of action or policy recommendation
Compensation advocate (CVC), the police, or refutes the notion that stalking stands alone in
those who provide access to psychological contemporary policing models and should not
treatment. This should reduce long lasting be regarded as a private matter. Just as in a
psychological and emotional trauma, such as family violence or sexual assault investigations,
depression and suicide ideations. These changes stalking victims are given crime victim’s
should also save the system potentially millions notifications and access to file protective orders.
of dollars annually from costs associated with Stalking victims should be encouraged to take a
investigating stalking and helping stalking proactive stance on stalking and make family,
victims. coworkers, and neighbors aware of the crime,
Finally, there would have to be public identity, behavior of the stalker. With better
awareness for the victim and educating the training, understanding, and community
community on the dynamics of stalking. The involvement in combating stalking, this
community, schools, and the police have increases victim safety, potential witnesses, and
to work with each victim to ensure his or her community awareness of this underreported or
safety while the case is ongoing. They must also unreported criminal offense.
make victims aware that they are not alone and

About the Author
Sergeant David Scott, Longview Police Department

Sergeant David Scott has been with the Longview Police Department for the past eight years. During
his career he has worked as an academy instructor for the department and East Texas Police Academy
(ETPA) in Kilgore, Texas instructing investigations pertaining to child abuse, family violence, and sexual
assault. Prior to promoting, he was a member of the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
team and later the hostage negotiation team. In 2008 he promoted to the rank of sergeant with the
department.
Sgt. Scott holds a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas.
He also holds two master degrees in Criminal Justice and Public Administration from the University of
Texas at Tyler in Tyler, Texas. He also earned professional training credentials from Bill Blackwood
Institute of Texas Leadership Command College, the F.B.I. Law Enforcement Executive Development
Association (LEEDA), the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), and the Training and
Research Institute for Professional Law Enforcement (TRIPLE). He is a certified TCLEOSE advanced and
basic instructor for the State, a Sexual Assault Family Violence Investigators Course (SAFVIC) instructor,
and Advanced Child Abuse instructor.
Sgt. Scott is an active member with FBI LEEDA, the Texas Police Association, the Texas Association
Against Sexual Assault (TAASA), and the Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA). He is currently
a board member with the East Texas Woman’s Center and the St. Mary’s Catholic School in East Texas.
He and his family reside in Longview, Texas.

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