Detective Sandra Spriegel joins UPD to expand victims services, support

The Texas State University Police Department has a new resource available for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault: Detective Sandra Spriegel.

The newly created position is a first for UPD and Texas State. Spriegel, a part-time employee, will focus solely on sexual assault and related crimes.

“Detective Spriegel recently joined UPD to serve as our first dedicated detective responsible for investigating crimes of sexual assault, stalking, and dating/domestic violence,” said Chief Matthew Carmichael. “Sandra brings a wealth of experience and expertise in these areas but most importantly Detective Spriegel has already demonstrated her love, care, and compassion for serving survivors. We are blessed to have Sandra as a part of our Bobcat community serving students.”

Spriegel comes to Texas State following a 23-year career with the San Marcos Police Department. She joined SMPD straight out of the police academy in 1998, working patrol for four years before being selected for the criminal investigation division.

She spent two years investigating property crimes before moving over to crimes against persons, where she spent the next 17 years with SMPD.

“I was hired to investigate sexual assaults, domestic violence and stalking. Since I have quite a bit of experience in those areas, it’s helpful to be able to work with victims and provide the support that they need,” Spriegel said. “I feel that being female and having experience investigating these crimes allows me to talk to victims and make them more comfortable.

“A lot of times victims don’t realize sexual assault is usually committed by someone they know. It’s a common misconception that with sexual assault the perpetrator is a stranger coming from behind the bushes,” she said. “That does happen, but it’s extremely rare. Sexual assault is usually somebody you know, somebody that you’re comfortable with. You never expect it to happen. I think there’s just a lot of misinformation about who the offenders are.”

That concern and sensitivity has been a hallmark of Spriegel’s career. As her career progressed with SMPD, she trained other officers in how to deal with sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and sex offenders. Those efforts were so successful there are plans for her to replicate that training for UPD during the summer.

 “I think that when victims see that there’s somebody who can talk to them and have experience then they’re more willing, more comfortable coming forward to report an assault,” she said.

Regardless of whether a victim of sexual assault wishes to press charges, Spriegel encourages victims to make a report and seek medical treatment. Victims of sexual assault can go to the hospital and request a sexual assault examination without law enforcement involvement. A SANE (sexual assault nurse examiner) nurse conduct the exam, which includes collecting any evidence and sending it to the Texas Department of Public Safety. If the victim later decides to press criminal charges, even years later, law enforcement can request that the SANE kit be processed for evidence.

“I always try to encourage sexual assault victims to report and have an exam. Just because you report doesn’t mean you have to follow through with criminal charges,” Spriegel said. “A lot of people don’t know they can go to any local hospital in Texas and say, ‘I want a SANE exam done.’”

Victims can tell the hospital not to notify law enforcement if that is their preference.

“A lot of victims think if they go to a hospital and say, ‘I need an exam done,’ law enforcement’s going to be called and we’re going to get involved. That’s not the case,” Spriegel said. “The laws were changed several years ago to where that kit gets done no matter what and then it gets sent to a storage facility where it’s kept for safekeeping.”

While the vast majority of sexual assault victims are women, men can be victimized as well. Although the stigma and shame can be powerful, Spriegel’s advice remains the same: Report the assault and request a SANE exam.

“There are situations where it is a male victim and yes, they are reluctant to admit they’ve been victimized. Very much so,” Spriegel said. “Whether it’s a male-on-male perpetrator, or a female-on-male perpetrator, a lot of men do not want to report, ‘This is what happened to me,’ but it can happen.”

Anyone at Texas State who is the victim of sexual assault, domestic violence or other crime may contact UPD at (512) 245-2805 or email police@txstate.edu.