What is the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)?

The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a team of specially trained Police Officers within the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD).  These officers work together with the common goal of providing a community coordinated response to reports of sexual assault. Working in coordination with University partners, SART strives to respond to survivors with professionalism, compassion, and empathy, while providing both on-campus and off-campus resources and ensuring that each survivor gains a solid understanding of all options moving forward and is fully supported throughout their process.   

Contact A SART Officer

Email: SART@georgetown.edu. Please note that email is not monitored in real time, if this is an emergency please call the Georgetown University Police number listed below.

Phone: 202-687-4343. When calling, ask to be connected to the SART Coordinator, Detective Melaccio.

Essential Services that a SART Officer Can Assist With

• No-Contact Orders – banning contact between two members of Georgetown University
• Barring Notices – banning an individual from Georgetown University, when appropriate
• Guidance on how to obtain Protection Orders; GUPD may not issue protection orders as they are issued by a judge via the Domestic Violence Intake Centers. Survivors who wish to seek a protective order should consider taking steps to preserve evidence, as it may be necessary to establish the proof of criminal domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
• Obtaining a Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) at the Washington Hospital Center. Click here for more information.

Safety Warnings

Safety Warning: Sexting

The University aims to alert community members of the dangers of sexting and sharing compromising information through digital communication following concerning reports.

Related article: FBI Washington Field Office Warns of Increase in Sextortion Schemes Targeting Young Boys

What to do if you are the Victim of Sextortion

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Safety Warning: How to Avoid Phishing

The Air-tag technology has become increasingly popular, and are used by stalkers to track unsuspecting victims or property, which then alerts the owner of the Air-tag of its current location. If an Air-Tag is in close proximity, you will receive a notification on your Apple device. If you receive a notification, and believe you are an intended target, immediately call the police.

Who We Are

Detective Melaccio / SART Coordinator

Hello, my name is Detective Kristen Melaccio, I joined the Georgetown University Police Department in December 2019 and am currently the SART Coordinator for GUPD. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from VCU and a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University.  In addition to working for GUPD, I am a Virginia State Accredited Victim Advocate in both Loudoun County and Alexandria City and am a member of the National Organization for Victim Assistance and a Certified Forensic Experiential Trauma Interviewer.  

I joined SART in order to empower, support, and provide resources to survivors of sexual assault.  It is my hope that survivors will feel heard, safe, and in control while navigating throughout their process. 

Communications Specialist Bakattah

Hello, my name is Sheila Bakattah. I joined the Georgetown community in 2022 and work as a Communications Specialist with the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD). I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University where I majored in Law and Society and also minored in Psychology and Sociology.

I learned about the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) on my first day and knew I wanted to join the team. It’s wonderful to be able to serve as a resource for students both on campus and in the community. The skills and information I have acquired through training have been extremely beneficial. I enjoy that we can assist and listen to those who are going through sensitive or challenging times while also giving them a voice and letting them know about their options and resources. I’m delighted to keep helping students who need the variety of services the SART team provides.

Officer Belen

Hi all, I’m Keith. I’ve been an officer with the Georgetown University Police Department since 2019. Prior to that, I graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2009 and spent the next seven years as an educator until 2016, when I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

In addition to being an officer, I am also a full-time student at the School of Continuing Studies. I graduated in May 2021 with a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity Risk Management and am currently enrolled in the school’s Applied Intelligence program. What drew me to the Georgetown community was the strong commitment to its ideals of Cura Personalis, justice in all of its forms, and doing one’s part to make the world a better place. Nothing makes me prouder than to say that I am a part of this community and work every day to ensure that Georgetown’s reputation among its peers is well-deserved. It is my honor and privilege to serve that capacity as a member of its SART team.

Detective Clark

Hi, my name is Detective Janelle Clark.  I have been with the Georgetown University Police Department since February 2015. I became a member of SART almost immediately upon starting with the department and am very passionate about the work that we do. I am originally from Pennsylvania and moved to DC to attend American University, where I obtained my MS in Justice, Law, and Society.

Communications Specialist Clark

Hiya – I’m Drue Clark (they/them) and I’m one of the communications specialists for campus security. If something goes wrong in the middle of the night and you dial an emergency or after-hours number, it’s quite likely that I’ll be the person picking up your call.

I moved to the States to attend college in 2018, which brings the number of continents I’ve lived on to three. I’m committed to ensuring that every person I speak to is treated with kindness and respect and given all the resources that I can make available to them. I have experience advocating for sexual assault victims, especially when it involves navigating the complexity that comes with being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I joined SART so I could keep doing that even better.

Sergeant Di Lena

Hello, my name is Sergeant DiLena, and I have been a part of the Georgetown University
Police Department since 2012. During my career as a law enforcement officer within GUPD,
I’ve served several different functions, to include: Patrol Officer, SART Officer, Crisis
Intervention Team, Mountain Bike Team, and I am currently the Community Liaison Officer Serving: St. Mary’s, Darnall Hall, Student Health, GU Federal Credit Union, Epicurean, IDEAA, CAPS, Henle Village, Arrupe Hall, Reiss Science, and ICC.

Sergeant Gette

Hi, my name is Sergeant Arthur Gette. I have worked at Georgetown University Police department since May 2017. I am originally from the upper Midwest and moved to the DC area about 9 years ago when my wife got a job with the federal government. I have a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and have done many things in my illustrious life; archaeologist, machinist, delivery and repair of medical equipment, and law enforcement.

I find law enforcement to be gratifying, when I can be of service, to help those who may find no others to help them. My reason for being on the SART Team is to give a voice to those that are underrepresented and often misrepresented. I also hope to be a guide and to offer information that may be needed in the days to follow.

Officer Harris

Hey, my name is Daronte Harris. I’ve been with Georgetown University since 2020. I started as a University Officer at the Law Center, then transitioned here to Georgetown Main Campus in 2022. Before University Policing, I’ve spent time in the judicial system in various roles such as Court Case Worker, Corrections Officer and Probation and Parole Officer.

I graduated from Kentucky State University in 2013 with a degree in Criminal Justice. I enjoy the campus atmosphere here at Georgetown. I hope to be able to provide the Georgetown students with the resources they need to navigate and be successful at Georgetown University. 

Lieutenant Johnson

Hello, my name is, Lieutenant Johnson and I have been a part of the Georgetown University Police Department since 2012. Prior to becoming a police officer with GUPD, I retired from MPD after 30 years of service.

During my career as a law enforcement officer within GUPD, I’ve served several different functions, to include: Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer, and Community Liaison Officer. I am very passionate about helping students get the resources they need in order to be successful at Georgetown University.

Officer Lombardo

Hello, my name is Nick Lombardo. I graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice and lived on Long Island, New York for most of my life. 

I’ve been a part of the Georgetown community since 2022 and love the atmosphere and people here. Being in law enforcement has always been a goal of mine, mainly because I love interacting and helping others. 

I joined the Sexual Assault Response Team because being able to help others is incredibly important to me.  I hope to be a helpful resource for anyone who needs assistance. 

Lieutenant Pearson

My name is Joyce Pearson, I am the Special Operations Commander for the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) and a member of the GUPD Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). I’m a Florida native, with 15 years of Law Enforcement experience and a Criminal Justice Degree. I joined The Georgetown Police Department February, 2020. 

After fifteen years in law enforcement, I have come to learn that my passion is deeply rooted in a desire to help. I was shocked when I read the article about the black survivors at Georgetown, and in that moment, I was reminded how important representation is. Helping people is the number one reason I became a law enforcement officer. This is who I am. It is not about press releases or political gain. I am here doing my part to help one student, one officer, one survivor and one community at a time.  

Changing the status quo on how crimes are reported and responded to is necessary and it will take all of us listening, working, and leading together. My appointment here could not have come at a better time. I am here to serve those who are in need of support, guidance, and most importantly, justice. Our community deserves a commitment to safety, and the Sexual Assault Response Team strives to deliver on that commitment.

Sergeant Prieto

Hi, I am Sheila, I am a Wife, Mother of 5 and a Grandmother of 1. I was born in Scotland and came to the States in 1987 as a Nanny.

My background is customer service management, being a police officer was something I always wanted to be and in a way very similar. Just one word can escalate or de-escalate any situation.

I joined the SART team because I like to think I am easy to talk to and I wanted to be available to those that needed someone to feel comfortable with.

Officer Regan

Hello, my name is Officer Michael Regan. I joined Georgetown University Police Department in September of 2022. Prior to coming to GUPD I primarily worked in retail management and worked to complete my bachelors degree in Politics, Economics, and Law.

I joined the GUPD SART team with a desire to be a resource for those within our community in need of assistance throughout their journey.

Officer Salmeron

Hello, my name is Eva. I am bi-lingual ( Spanish fluently and some Japanese) and am a 1st generation college student at Marymount University.

I have been with Georgetown University since 2019 and began as a Dispatcher at GUPD. Prior to GUPD, I worked for Loudoun County Mental Health Department and Loudoun Abused Womens Shelter for three years. I have experience working as an advocate and am passionate in encouraging survivors to find their own voice again. Empowering student survivors is one of many reasons why I joined SART. It is an honor to assist in providing a safe community by giving survivors a way to feel safe, strong, and in control.

A Guide to the On and Off-Campus Resources