Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 25, 2006 12:07:26 GMT -5
By George J. Bryjak
08.25.2006 - Although the majority of police are honorable, hard working individuals deserving of our respect and gratitude, a troubling minority engage in duty-related sexual misconduct. Criminologist Alien Sapp notes that in addition to institutionalized authority and the power to detain and arrest, police officers have ongoing contact with citizens, much of which occurs in relative isolation. As such, law enforcement personnel occupy a unique position in society, a status that affords them numerous opportunities to engage in predatory sexual behavior.
In “Breaking Rank: A Top Cop’s Expose of the Dark Side of American Policing,” Norm Stamper, former San Diego police officer and chief of the Seattle Police Department, stated that over the course of his 34-year career, “I would see it all”: cops fondling prisoners, making bogus traffic stops of attractive women, trading freedom for sex with a hooker, “making ‘love’ with a 14-year-old police Explorer Scout ...”
Allen Sap interviewed police officers and their supervisors in major metropolitan police departments across seven states. He found that various forms of police sexual misconduct occurred, including the following:
¯Sexually motivated contacts with drivers — This misconduct occurs when officers stop females without legal basis or probable cause to get a closer look at the driver and/or obtain information about her. A traffic patrolman stated, “Sure, I see a good-looking fox driving around by herself or even a couple of foxes together. I pull them over and check them out. You can always claim a stoplight isn’t working. ... Lots of times it doesn’t lead anywhere, but you’d be surprised how much action I get.”
¯Contacts with crime victims — Emotionally upset female crime victims are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment by police. Unnecessary callbacks to these women is one of the most common forms of police sexual misconduct. A burglary detective told Sapp, “When you drop in a few times to check on the victim or to tell her that you are still working on the case, you kind of establish a connection with her. She will offer a cup of coffee or a drink. ... You can’t do this with everyone, but if you pick them carefully, it gets you a lot of action.”
¯Contacts with offenders — Criminal offenders are particularly vulnerable to an officer’s sexual advances. A theft squad detective stated, “You bet I get (sex) once in a while by some broad who I arrest. Lots of times you can just hint that if you are taken care of, you could forget about what they did.” Speaking of female shoplifters, the officer noted, “If it’s a decent-looking woman, sometimes I’ll offer to take her home and make my pitch. ... I never mess around with any of the kids, but I know a couple of guys who made out with a couple of high school girls they caught on a B and E (breaking and entering).”
¯Sexual shakedowns — Demanding sex from prostitutes, homosexuals and drug users is one of the more serious forms of police sexual misconduct. A vice squad sergeant told Sapp, “I know several dozen guys who have worked vice. ... I believe every one of them has gone beyond the rules on sex with prostitutes. ... Sometimes the officer goes ahead and has sex and then makes the arrest and files the report saying he followed procedures. If the whore claims otherwise, no one believes her anyway, since they think she is just trying to get her cased tossed out.”
In a research report, “‘Driving While Female’: A National Problem in Police Misconduct,” criminologists Samuel Walker and Dawn Irlbeck concluded that targeting female drivers for sexual favors occurs across the country, with abuse ranging from “harassment to sexual assault and even murder.” Their review of the national print media from 1990 to 2001 revealed hundreds of allegations of “driving while female” (DWF), with over a dozen substantiated cases recorded each year.
Walker and Irlbeck argue that documented allegations of law enforcement sexual improprieties are “the tip of the iceberg,” as many victims do not come forward because of humiliation and the fear of police reprisals. In addition, some police departments fail to acknowledge this category of victim complaint.
Norm Stamper believes “about 5 percent of America’s cops are on the prowl for women.” Assuming the one in 20 estimate is correct, more than 35,000 law enforcement personnel nationwide may engage in sexual misconduct, some on a regular basis. If Stamper has significantly overestimated the number of state and local sexual predators and the true figure is closer to 1 in 50, that still amounts to 14,000 officers likely to commit sexual improprieties in the line of duty.
Criminologists Walker and Irlbeck offer a number of measures to curb DWF abuses. These recommendations could be modified to curtail other forms of police sexual misconduct:
¯Data collection — Law enforcement officials must collect data and determine if their departments have a pattern of DWF incidents. Anecdotal evidence suggests the problem is widespread.
¯Official polices and training — Police departments must enact official policies specifying that DWF abuse is prohibited and will result in termination proceedings. Law enforcement agencies should incorporate a DWF component into police academy training as well as ongoing service programs.
¯Better supervision — Immediate steps should be taken to ensure closer supervision of officers in the field by supervisors who make it clear that allegations of police misconduct are taken seriously and will be investigated.
An open and accessible citizen complaint system — A complaint system open to all members of the community should be implemented. Information about this system should be disseminated across the geographical jurisdiction of the department.
Females who have contact with police officers, be they crime victims, witnesses, offenders or drivers, should not have to worry about sexual coercion on the part of public officials sworn to protect them. The predatory officers who disgrace a noble profession must be stopped.
www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/Columns/articles.asp?articleID=3793
08.25.2006 - Although the majority of police are honorable, hard working individuals deserving of our respect and gratitude, a troubling minority engage in duty-related sexual misconduct. Criminologist Alien Sapp notes that in addition to institutionalized authority and the power to detain and arrest, police officers have ongoing contact with citizens, much of which occurs in relative isolation. As such, law enforcement personnel occupy a unique position in society, a status that affords them numerous opportunities to engage in predatory sexual behavior.
In “Breaking Rank: A Top Cop’s Expose of the Dark Side of American Policing,” Norm Stamper, former San Diego police officer and chief of the Seattle Police Department, stated that over the course of his 34-year career, “I would see it all”: cops fondling prisoners, making bogus traffic stops of attractive women, trading freedom for sex with a hooker, “making ‘love’ with a 14-year-old police Explorer Scout ...”
Allen Sap interviewed police officers and their supervisors in major metropolitan police departments across seven states. He found that various forms of police sexual misconduct occurred, including the following:
¯Sexually motivated contacts with drivers — This misconduct occurs when officers stop females without legal basis or probable cause to get a closer look at the driver and/or obtain information about her. A traffic patrolman stated, “Sure, I see a good-looking fox driving around by herself or even a couple of foxes together. I pull them over and check them out. You can always claim a stoplight isn’t working. ... Lots of times it doesn’t lead anywhere, but you’d be surprised how much action I get.”
¯Contacts with crime victims — Emotionally upset female crime victims are particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment by police. Unnecessary callbacks to these women is one of the most common forms of police sexual misconduct. A burglary detective told Sapp, “When you drop in a few times to check on the victim or to tell her that you are still working on the case, you kind of establish a connection with her. She will offer a cup of coffee or a drink. ... You can’t do this with everyone, but if you pick them carefully, it gets you a lot of action.”
¯Contacts with offenders — Criminal offenders are particularly vulnerable to an officer’s sexual advances. A theft squad detective stated, “You bet I get (sex) once in a while by some broad who I arrest. Lots of times you can just hint that if you are taken care of, you could forget about what they did.” Speaking of female shoplifters, the officer noted, “If it’s a decent-looking woman, sometimes I’ll offer to take her home and make my pitch. ... I never mess around with any of the kids, but I know a couple of guys who made out with a couple of high school girls they caught on a B and E (breaking and entering).”
¯Sexual shakedowns — Demanding sex from prostitutes, homosexuals and drug users is one of the more serious forms of police sexual misconduct. A vice squad sergeant told Sapp, “I know several dozen guys who have worked vice. ... I believe every one of them has gone beyond the rules on sex with prostitutes. ... Sometimes the officer goes ahead and has sex and then makes the arrest and files the report saying he followed procedures. If the whore claims otherwise, no one believes her anyway, since they think she is just trying to get her cased tossed out.”
In a research report, “‘Driving While Female’: A National Problem in Police Misconduct,” criminologists Samuel Walker and Dawn Irlbeck concluded that targeting female drivers for sexual favors occurs across the country, with abuse ranging from “harassment to sexual assault and even murder.” Their review of the national print media from 1990 to 2001 revealed hundreds of allegations of “driving while female” (DWF), with over a dozen substantiated cases recorded each year.
Walker and Irlbeck argue that documented allegations of law enforcement sexual improprieties are “the tip of the iceberg,” as many victims do not come forward because of humiliation and the fear of police reprisals. In addition, some police departments fail to acknowledge this category of victim complaint.
Norm Stamper believes “about 5 percent of America’s cops are on the prowl for women.” Assuming the one in 20 estimate is correct, more than 35,000 law enforcement personnel nationwide may engage in sexual misconduct, some on a regular basis. If Stamper has significantly overestimated the number of state and local sexual predators and the true figure is closer to 1 in 50, that still amounts to 14,000 officers likely to commit sexual improprieties in the line of duty.
Criminologists Walker and Irlbeck offer a number of measures to curb DWF abuses. These recommendations could be modified to curtail other forms of police sexual misconduct:
¯Data collection — Law enforcement officials must collect data and determine if their departments have a pattern of DWF incidents. Anecdotal evidence suggests the problem is widespread.
¯Official polices and training — Police departments must enact official policies specifying that DWF abuse is prohibited and will result in termination proceedings. Law enforcement agencies should incorporate a DWF component into police academy training as well as ongoing service programs.
¯Better supervision — Immediate steps should be taken to ensure closer supervision of officers in the field by supervisors who make it clear that allegations of police misconduct are taken seriously and will be investigated.
An open and accessible citizen complaint system — A complaint system open to all members of the community should be implemented. Information about this system should be disseminated across the geographical jurisdiction of the department.
Females who have contact with police officers, be they crime victims, witnesses, offenders or drivers, should not have to worry about sexual coercion on the part of public officials sworn to protect them. The predatory officers who disgrace a noble profession must be stopped.
www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/Columns/articles.asp?articleID=3793