MISSOULA- The City of Missoula is looking to create a new position to work with dating and sexual violence issues in response to the federal investigations into the sexual assaults reported around the University of Montana campus.

Wednesday morning, the Public Safety and Health Committee heard a proposition from the Office of Planning and Grants and the Crime Victims Advocate Office about how a City Prevention Coordinator would work on building a network of people who want to help prevent domestic violence. The coordinator would also focus on increasing understanding and resources around sex and dating violence.

Missoula County and UM already have a similar position in place, and city planning and grants officials believe everyone needs to get involved to make a change in our community.

"When you focus on what can victims do to not be victims, or what can perpetrators do to change all of their behavior, you get stuck," said Shantelle Gaylor with the planning and grants office. "But if you have somebody who's interrupting a potentially dangerous situation, or somebody who's telling their friend that their sexist behavior isn't going to be good for anybody in the long run, then you have an opportunity to really make a long-term change."

The committee plans on talking more about the job before making a recommendation to the Missoula City Council.