The average Liberal is too clueless to understand that they have created this monster by supporting the strengthening of power of government workers' unions. They believe that police unions have the public interest in mind over the interests of their members. They also believe that teachers' unions always put the interests of students over that of their members, and that nurses' unions (and AMA, the doctors' "union") place the interests of the patients over their member's interests.
In a democracy, such people get the government they deserve. If such people are a clear majority in a state (as is the case in California), the rest of the folks have to suffer, too.
In a democracy, such people get the government they deserve. If such people are a clear majority in a state (as is the case in California), the rest of the folks have to suffer, too.
2
Just get rid of the whole department and then take everyone's guns away and problem is solved.
But whatever you do, please make sure to keep voting democrat (the ones that put the police in these positions to begin with) and YOU MUST re elect the DA she was amazing.
But whatever you do, please make sure to keep voting democrat (the ones that put the police in these positions to begin with) and YOU MUST re elect the DA she was amazing.
1
I worked for a fire department in Virginia and was also a volunteer with SARP (Sexual Assault Response Program) in Lynchburg. What I saw in the fire service was very similar to the things mentioned here. I will never forget two of my male co-workers discussing a rape call they had worked on. I vividly recall two white male firefighters: 1) making fun of the victim's speech and race. (She was black - therefore did not speak "correctly.") 2) They believed she was "too fat and ugly" to be raped. 3) She was a "liar" because she reported it late (not "right after"), and 4) "You can't be raped by your baby daddy." All of this was followed by guffaws and laughter. This was only one of many such occurrences that I witnessed of abusive behavior against members of the community - especially to people of color - by the fire service. The common thread is a mostly white male department with dated training and hiring methods that are allowed to go unchecked for generations. I know it is hugely unpopular to criticize the fire service, but their abuses also need to be brought into the light.
22
I am from the parts you write about in this article. The BCPD (Baltimore City Police Department) has been a shame. If you want to read about this go to the Baltimore Brew, an independent blog site with excellent coverage on this and other issues about Baltimore. The Baltimore Sun has done some insightful and detailed coverage as well. What is not mentioned over here is the sex in exchange for freedom that one officer worked out with a sex worker. What is also galling is that it was known to the officers that stopping Whites yielded more drugs than stopping Blacks and yet Blacks were systematically targeted in the name of the war on drugs. Even more appalling a template was drawn up for arrests and it already had gender and race filled in as Black and male, by the BCPD. Here's a poem for you NYT on the ignominious BCPD:
The BCPD saga
Brother in Blue,
I got you a template for every arrest
you must do,
you're gonna love it with zest,
It is best to call it pre prepared
for race and gender
and you don't need to wonder
how to fill in those aspects of an offender,
Black male will be your clue
for where to go with your aggression
and shackles--
Brother in Blue,
they wait for you
far, far from the places
where the white people stew
their drugs,
in the corners by the lamp posts
find them and bring them in,
you need your quota replete and new,
O brother in blue
If the arrested are black and male
THAT should do it for you!
I recoil in fear from the BCPD..
The BCPD saga
Brother in Blue,
I got you a template for every arrest
you must do,
you're gonna love it with zest,
It is best to call it pre prepared
for race and gender
and you don't need to wonder
how to fill in those aspects of an offender,
Black male will be your clue
for where to go with your aggression
and shackles--
Brother in Blue,
they wait for you
far, far from the places
where the white people stew
their drugs,
in the corners by the lamp posts
find them and bring them in,
you need your quota replete and new,
O brother in blue
If the arrested are black and male
THAT should do it for you!
I recoil in fear from the BCPD..
1
But still, Blue Lives Matter. The law as enforced eventually roots out all these forms of corruption. Asking a one-party town o do that is asking a whole lot, though.
1
I'll say it again, since it should really have gotten through the first time, when you get comments about the victimization of men in an article about GENDER BIAS, you've reported inaccurately and your writing is flawed. One such comment is above.
This isn't rocket science nor does it take an advanced degree in journalism to figure this out.
Your readers get it--note the comments from women of all races reporting their experiences with abusive or violent police officers.
This isn't rocket science nor does it take an advanced degree in journalism to figure this out.
Your readers get it--note the comments from women of all races reporting their experiences with abusive or violent police officers.
2
I ask as a liberal that where have the Democrats who run these cities been for all these years of abuse? Where can you turn when Trump & the Republicans are a party of white violence and the other major party looks the other way for years and years about police barbarity towards the urban poor? We seem to be a nation without any values or care for one another.
3
Sam not-from-Texas made a good try, but readers know that every large American city has been dominated by only the Democrats for a generation.
How is Detroit doing?
Democrats have run Detroit since the last GOP mayor in the 19650's.
Competition helps everything, and a complete lack of political choice turns our large cities into one-party islands of hopelessness.
How is Detroit doing?
Democrats have run Detroit since the last GOP mayor in the 19650's.
Competition helps everything, and a complete lack of political choice turns our large cities into one-party islands of hopelessness.
Anyone who has been awake the past fifty (50) years or so cannot escape the blinding reality of race and policing. It is simply not possible for black violent crime to be policed by the non black (especially white) population. The only reasonable long term policing policy is to have all black police departments police blacks, all non black police departments to police all non blacks. Without this division, there will never be an end to endless (questionable) lawsuits of police brutality against the black population. Some refer to this policy as segregation. And yet, segregation is precisely what is required, is not a bad thing. It simply mirrors the real world, which the politically correct continue to resist..
1
Not only is racial representation required (for population being 'policed' ), but women should also be represented. I don't advocate for only blacks policing blacks, etc., but by diversifying the population in the force one could go a long way in better understanding these populations. Also diversifying the leadership & having a civilian police review board would likely help as well.
4
The Justice Department needs to conduct a similar investigation in Hawaii. No more denying the problem of thuggish, unintelligent, incompetent cops all over the U.S. I'm frankly tired of trying to check myself and saying, "Oh, but most police officers are good people." Good people don't remain silent while working within such a disgusting culture of bigotry.
9
This is not just in Baltimore people.
In Suffolk County New York we are living a full disgrace of police failure. Early May of 2010 an escort who advertised on Craig's list responded to a potential client provided his address in Oak Beach New York (Ocean Parkway near Jones Beach) At some point during the "party" this woman became alarmed for her safety and called 911. She vanished! The Mother of this woman called the police so often that they reluctantly began to search. In searching for her more than 10 sets of human remains strewn for about a dozen miles west of Oak Beach along this dark road. Two years later her skeletal remains were found in the brambles at the side of Ocean Parkway within close proximity of the client's dwelling. To date these crimes are unsolved.
The official statement in part from the Suffolk County Executive was the following: "We may never solve these murders." This sorry state of police affairs here on Long Island leaves her population nervous and possible thinking:" Do we have a big bunch of DO-DO Birds in Blue uniforms as a police Department or do we have REALLY BAD ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PUBLIC?
Pretend for a little moment that this female escort was a male electrician called to this same home in Oak Beach to install a new light fixture. Mysteriously he vanishes and in time his skeletal remains are found in the brambles; would the same Suffolk County Executive claim "We may never know, no clues, oh well?" Are the Suffolk cops DUMB or DIRTY?
In Suffolk County New York we are living a full disgrace of police failure. Early May of 2010 an escort who advertised on Craig's list responded to a potential client provided his address in Oak Beach New York (Ocean Parkway near Jones Beach) At some point during the "party" this woman became alarmed for her safety and called 911. She vanished! The Mother of this woman called the police so often that they reluctantly began to search. In searching for her more than 10 sets of human remains strewn for about a dozen miles west of Oak Beach along this dark road. Two years later her skeletal remains were found in the brambles at the side of Ocean Parkway within close proximity of the client's dwelling. To date these crimes are unsolved.
The official statement in part from the Suffolk County Executive was the following: "We may never solve these murders." This sorry state of police affairs here on Long Island leaves her population nervous and possible thinking:" Do we have a big bunch of DO-DO Birds in Blue uniforms as a police Department or do we have REALLY BAD ATTITUDE TOWARD THE PUBLIC?
Pretend for a little moment that this female escort was a male electrician called to this same home in Oak Beach to install a new light fixture. Mysteriously he vanishes and in time his skeletal remains are found in the brambles; would the same Suffolk County Executive claim "We may never know, no clues, oh well?" Are the Suffolk cops DUMB or DIRTY?
7
There is a longstanding (thousands of years) widespread (across the country, and entire world, but one thing at a time) differential in the way authority and law enforcement treat men vs. women.
This article was necessary, but too limited in that it tried to contain the story to follow the narrative of BLM. it's not (only) about police stopping black women. That is just one part of a much, much larger story that has yet to be reported. Who knows if that larger story could ever make the front page of the times, though--people, including women, really just dont want to think about it.
This article was necessary, but too limited in that it tried to contain the story to follow the narrative of BLM. it's not (only) about police stopping black women. That is just one part of a much, much larger story that has yet to be reported. Who knows if that larger story could ever make the front page of the times, though--people, including women, really just dont want to think about it.
2
I agree that this is a problem of huge proportions that will only be fixed with drastic and sustained action. In too many communities the police are essentially an occupying force and too many bad cops are allowed to remain on the streets. I do , however, want to remember the good cops out there. A few years back we had to call the police due to a domestic situation involving my aged mother-in-law and her adult son, my b-i-l. The police were prompt, courteous, and supportive. They de-escalated the situation and reassured my m-i-l that they would return if necessary. They told my b-i-l politely but in no uncertain terms that he better skedaddle and not return (at his mother's desire). They did their job the way all police should. We need to recruit men and women who want to work this way, then train them how to do it. Get rid of the sexists, racists, homophobes, bullies, and cowboys.
7
To serve and protect? Until we start changing the authority based militaristic recruiting and culture of our police forces these headlines will continue. Our police should be pulled from people dedicated to community organising, social justice and be educated in the historical and economic factors of the communities in which they are assigned. Until there are some radical changes in how we understand policing these attitudes and the tragic injustices they cause will continue!
3
The Commissioner assures people the police department is changing, but the Captain in charge of the department’s Special Investigations Section, which contains the [new] Sex Offense Unit, doesn't see any need to change.
“I believe that much of the work was being done,” Captain Hohman said. “We just weren’t very good at documenting.”
I am outraged. How can anyone justify this man being in this position?
“I believe that much of the work was being done,” Captain Hohman said. “We just weren’t very good at documenting.”
I am outraged. How can anyone justify this man being in this position?
9
How can anybody justify the current chief prosecutor there?
5
"The inclusion of gender bias issues in the report stemmed from an aggressive push by the Justice Department, under President Obama, to improve the handling of sexual assault cases on college campuses and in cities and communities around the country."
Thank you Barack Obama for fighting every day of your terms as president, fighting for what you have believed in every day of your career as a public servant. Thank you for not giving into the mindless media title of "lame duck." We now see the benefits of an administration that has fought vigorously, and won, for the rights of the LBGT community. This kind of focus has helped with other issues confronting our country.
The real architect of the Revolution or Wave, or whatever you want to call it, is Barack Obama. Not Donald or Bernie. Obama. Working as hard as he ever has. $80 million will now go to fund research for a Zika vaccine, courtesy of Obama and not the useless Congress.
Contrast this president at this time of his terms with our last one. Bush was failing at even trying to hold the country together as we were descending into an economic pitfall.
Let's just hope that subsequent efforts to bring about justice in America will be as focused and productive as Barack Obama has been, and still is as a matter of fact!
Thank you Barack Obama for fighting every day of your terms as president, fighting for what you have believed in every day of your career as a public servant. Thank you for not giving into the mindless media title of "lame duck." We now see the benefits of an administration that has fought vigorously, and won, for the rights of the LBGT community. This kind of focus has helped with other issues confronting our country.
The real architect of the Revolution or Wave, or whatever you want to call it, is Barack Obama. Not Donald or Bernie. Obama. Working as hard as he ever has. $80 million will now go to fund research for a Zika vaccine, courtesy of Obama and not the useless Congress.
Contrast this president at this time of his terms with our last one. Bush was failing at even trying to hold the country together as we were descending into an economic pitfall.
Let's just hope that subsequent efforts to bring about justice in America will be as focused and productive as Barack Obama has been, and still is as a matter of fact!
22
I fully agree - Obama has been steadfast on uncovering this important issues.
9
"The challenge of interacting respectfully with victims of sexual assault is a challenge to our profession,"
We hear how cops need better training, some cops just need some empathy to begin with. If they don't view women or African Americans as human beings who deserve respect, it's just never going to work out well. And that is taught much earlier in life. Way past time to take cops off the pedestal in this country and hold many of them accountable. It's not just a few bad apples.
We hear how cops need better training, some cops just need some empathy to begin with. If they don't view women or African Americans as human beings who deserve respect, it's just never going to work out well. And that is taught much earlier in life. Way past time to take cops off the pedestal in this country and hold many of them accountable. It's not just a few bad apples.
11
I was grabbed off the street by a stranger, had a knife but to my throat and raped in 1994. Having just graduated from an Ivy League university, I had every expectation that the police would conduct the investigation professionally. After the rape exam was performed at the hospital, the detective asked me to recite my recollection of the crime, step by step, for the third time. Then he said to me "You can always tell when the person is telling the truth because their story doesn't change".
While sitting with the same (retired) cop 17 years later, waiting to testify at my rapist's trial, he made the same remark. He had done nothing to find the guy who went on to rape six more women (two before me). All those years and his default view was that victims lie about being raped.
While sitting with the same (retired) cop 17 years later, waiting to testify at my rapist's trial, he made the same remark. He had done nothing to find the guy who went on to rape six more women (two before me). All those years and his default view was that victims lie about being raped.
24
“I believe that much of the work was being done,” Captain Hohman said. “We just weren’t very good at documenting.” In other words, you weren't doing the work, Captain Hohman. He should be fired asap.
14
I am furious and ready for action, If anyone has any ideas on how to instill real change, please speak up.
Atrocities such as these happen everyday, in every city around the world and I’m sick of sitting by reading about it.
What do we need to do to end these injustices….?
Atrocities such as these happen everyday, in every city around the world and I’m sick of sitting by reading about it.
What do we need to do to end these injustices….?
8
"My best suggestion is to live without the police for a while."
that is a fallacious argument, that they may be rotten but is the best we can have. if public police was disbanded private companies would do the job it is like public education which has a near monopoly. they also have a terrible outcome at a high cost to the taxpayer, competition would do wonders to insure a better outcome.
that is a fallacious argument, that they may be rotten but is the best we can have. if public police was disbanded private companies would do the job it is like public education which has a near monopoly. they also have a terrible outcome at a high cost to the taxpayer, competition would do wonders to insure a better outcome.
3
When you're beating and raping your own wife why in the world would you want to prosecute someone else for the same thing. The answer is, you wouldn't.
11
to Kathy, san francisco
"You seem to think that all peace officers behave like the degenerates in Baltimore. They do not. You're the one who needs to get real."
the minute you use the word all your statement will be proven wrong. near psychopaths and bullies are attracted to police careers. while they may be few in numbers by force of personality they dominate police departments. other officers will succumb to their pressure by joining in the abuse or by being silent.
there should be zero tolerance for abusive behavior, meaning being fired even for a 1st offense. police unions will never acquiesce to a strict policy. even killings of civilians are defended as justifiable homicide regardless of the underlying circumstances.
"You seem to think that all peace officers behave like the degenerates in Baltimore. They do not. You're the one who needs to get real."
the minute you use the word all your statement will be proven wrong. near psychopaths and bullies are attracted to police careers. while they may be few in numbers by force of personality they dominate police departments. other officers will succumb to their pressure by joining in the abuse or by being silent.
there should be zero tolerance for abusive behavior, meaning being fired even for a 1st offense. police unions will never acquiesce to a strict policy. even killings of civilians are defended as justifiable homicide regardless of the underlying circumstances.
6
The police will never allow outsiders to police the police.
The Blue Wall of Silence must be torn down completely and permanently. This is going to require dramatic action from the federal government.
The Blue Wall of Silence must be torn down completely and permanently. This is going to require dramatic action from the federal government.
15
It's not just Baltimore. I've found with my encounters with New York and New Jersey police that they're quite likely to pull you over for driving while blonde (then think you'll be their friend for some reason), do not respond to women who call to report crimes but are there lickety-split when men call to report even non-crimes, and ask "whaddaya want US to do" with a roll of the eyes when you report something—because women are SUCH an annoyance. Even my own BIL, a police sergeant, has had multiple cases brought against him by women for police brutality, because it's just so easy to beat the crud out of a small woman when she's getting on your nerves by driving or walking or breathing. I put off calling the police for six years while being continually harassed by a (male) neighbor, until I finally had it last week and went to the police to report him. The response? "Whaddaya want US to do?" (Roll of eyes.) Same response every time. Cops are high school bullies who need an excuse to hit smaller people and carry a gun. That's my conclusion after 50+ years on Earth.
27
an article about this--in conjunction with Baltimore, tracing similarities--is what should have been written.
1
So maybe the Black Lives Matter protesters were right after all. Why did people think that racist police department wouldn't also be sexist and homophobic? Perhaps now the majority population will realize that police officers don't hesitate to shoot an unarmed Black man because they've been getting away with so many other crimes for such a long time.
We keep hearing that the majority of police officers of 'good people'. Well it's time for them to prove it. If they're just going along to get along then they're accessories, willing to turn a blind eye to atrocities for a decent salary and a nice pension.
The rot has to be cleaned from the inside out.
We keep hearing that the majority of police officers of 'good people'. Well it's time for them to prove it. If they're just going along to get along then they're accessories, willing to turn a blind eye to atrocities for a decent salary and a nice pension.
The rot has to be cleaned from the inside out.
25
My best suggestion is to live without the police for a while. Then say what you want. Oh, that's not for you? You would rather restrain and change the folks who keep you safe? Go ahead, try no cops for a while. I'm waiting.
2
Those are the choices: Live without the police or live with the police out of any control?
2
How can I get that chance?
So, you excuse the horrendous behavior of the BCPD?
4
This is worse than anti-black bias. African-Americans commit a higher proportion of violent crimes than Asians or whites. This is a fact. Nor is profiling always bad; when done correctly, this is an indispensable tool of law enforcement. So there is at least some defensible basis to focusing on black males as suspects. But what is the rational basis for treating rape victims with disrespect and allowing rapists to go free?
6
Cops, in general, don't want you to report crimes. It really just cuts into their notion of what their jobs entail. And this pretty much explains all the government agencies involved in enforcing the law. So, although it sounds like they're ignoring women, they, in fact, are ignoring us all.
You have to be a pretty important person to expect the "keepers-of-the-law" to listen. You can't win, and many of us have given up contacting the "authorities" to report violations of our laws.
You have to be a pretty important person to expect the "keepers-of-the-law" to listen. You can't win, and many of us have given up contacting the "authorities" to report violations of our laws.
8
We're pretty snooty about the oppressed women of the Islamic world and their burkas. How is this different?
13
Not going to the police is one way to ensure that nothing will ever change. Good thing the civil rights movement didn't see it that way.
5
Until we focus on the people who are in charge, nothing will change. Until the people who refuse to pay for the kind of society they claim to want, nothing will change. Scapegoating the police officers on the beat while giving the politicians in charge, and the people who refuse to invest the money and personal effort required to build a better society, a free pass; nothing will change.
1
The treatment of women in Baltimore, especially women that are victims of sexual assault is simply unjust and inexcusable. This malfeasance has gone to the extent that some women evade reporting rape due to the lackluster investigations that occur when they report these occurrences.
These occurrences are happening in a first world country defined by justice for all but the actions of the Baltimore Police Department and many others in the country alike inherently dismiss basic constitutional rights and in turn allow for the unjust treatment of victims of sexual assault.
Baltimore Police commissioner Kevin Davis didn't dispute the Justice Department's findings and his only effort to resolve this reoccurring conflict was to put a "trusted" captain in charge of the new sex offense unit. His actions in no way reflect someone genuinely trying to alleviate the injustices that happened under their leadership.
Though these problems are not exclusive to Baltimore, they appear to be more prevalent due to the lack of effort put into properly handling reported rapes and fairly treating the victims. The bigots that are the Baltimore Police are unable to properly due their jobs and are in turn increasing the risk of harm of women in Baltimore.
These occurrences are happening in a first world country defined by justice for all but the actions of the Baltimore Police Department and many others in the country alike inherently dismiss basic constitutional rights and in turn allow for the unjust treatment of victims of sexual assault.
Baltimore Police commissioner Kevin Davis didn't dispute the Justice Department's findings and his only effort to resolve this reoccurring conflict was to put a "trusted" captain in charge of the new sex offense unit. His actions in no way reflect someone genuinely trying to alleviate the injustices that happened under their leadership.
Though these problems are not exclusive to Baltimore, they appear to be more prevalent due to the lack of effort put into properly handling reported rapes and fairly treating the victims. The bigots that are the Baltimore Police are unable to properly due their jobs and are in turn increasing the risk of harm of women in Baltimore.
4
Despite sounding specific to certain audiences, the 43-minute presentation linked to below is worth viewing by every person reading and responding to this article (please note that after the presentation, there's a question and answer period during which an audience member describes details of her own trauma).
"The Neurobiology of Sexual Assault: Implications for First Responders in Law Enforcement, Prosecution and Victim Advocacy"
http://nij.gov/multimedia/presenter/presenter-campbell/Pages/welcome.aspx
"The Neurobiology of Sexual Assault: Implications for First Responders in Law Enforcement, Prosecution and Victim Advocacy"
http://nij.gov/multimedia/presenter/presenter-campbell/Pages/welcome.aspx
5
All this political spin designed to make women believe they are living in the Middle East... and get out there and vote for the woman. More identity politics designed to divide us. You read the comments, it seems to be working. Women are second-class citizens? Women are oppressed? Life isn't completely fair? Good grief...
1
Not sure who originally said this, but you sure need to hear it: "When you're used to privilege, equality feels like oppression."
19
Sorry, don't think you have been paying attention. And I'd be willing to bet a million dollars that you're a white male.
15
I don't think women need "political spin" to know the Baltimore they live in!
7
In addition to what others have said, not prosecuting rape cases is a failure in crime prevention and law enforcement. A recent study on rape on college campuses showed that 70% of rapes were perpetrated by 6% of males. Solving one crime of rape often solves several other rape crimes and would prevent future crimes. I have often sadly observed that a rape is only taken with some level of seriousness by police if it also involves the death of the women.
15
I've only been in Baltimore once for a few hours at the downtown bus station in the early 80's. I know nothing of the system there but I have to think based on this report that this culture in the Police Department must mirror in some way the larger culture of the city government and maybe the citizenry itself.
It leads me to be even more suspicious of the recent verdicts in the Freddy Gray case than I already am.
It leads me to be even more suspicious of the recent verdicts in the Freddy Gray case than I already am.
1
My hometown should never have let the justice department in. They were looking to go after the police and the city. Why didn't this happen in New York after their incident?
I'm sorry, but the tenor of the report, and all the articles are demeaning to the city that has reputation problems to begin with. I personally don't think they would have issue the same report about the DC, or NY district. Baltimore City is just about the most progressive place in many of these respects that you'll find. It does have a terrible police problem where people who don't live in the city come in and work for the department. Also, there probably are more sex workers in Baltimore than most places, and the answer again is to legalize sex work so they aren't committing a crime by doing their profession. That would reduce the pimping and trafficking parts of the business as they could go to the police.
I'm sorry, but the tenor of the report, and all the articles are demeaning to the city that has reputation problems to begin with. I personally don't think they would have issue the same report about the DC, or NY district. Baltimore City is just about the most progressive place in many of these respects that you'll find. It does have a terrible police problem where people who don't live in the city come in and work for the department. Also, there probably are more sex workers in Baltimore than most places, and the answer again is to legalize sex work so they aren't committing a crime by doing their profession. That would reduce the pimping and trafficking parts of the business as they could go to the police.
the idea that joining a police force is guaranteed life time employment needs rethinking..some people are just not suited for certain jobs.. no amount of training will fix it and anyone that has held a job knows that
29
Why is it when it comes to rape, the woman who is humiliated by the authorities? Why is she the one who is accused to trying to wreck someone's life? Why, when it comes to domestic abuse and the woman and children being the ones most often abused, can the men get away with murder while the victims, if they kill in self defense, are portrayed as opportunistic sociopaths or worse? There is plenty of evidence out there that shows that women and children do not ask to be raped, do not encourage their own rapes, and that ignoring the problem or blaming the victim changes nothing. The same goes for domestic violence.
Having been molested as a child I can blame the violence that occurred in my childhood home for it. By hitting me and beating me my parents let me know that it was perfectly fine for any adult to do whatever they wanted to my body. Aren't police departments doing the same thing when they ignore, or worse, make fun of women who want to file charges about rape? Our society is biased enough against women. Apparently, in the minds of some, rape remains the fault of the woman and should not be a crime. This attitude, in today's world, is deplorable. No one, male or female, should have to worry about bodily harm or violation when they are going about their daily activities. Yet women do. And it's not women in poor, rundown places who worry. It's women from every walk of life.
Having been molested as a child I can blame the violence that occurred in my childhood home for it. By hitting me and beating me my parents let me know that it was perfectly fine for any adult to do whatever they wanted to my body. Aren't police departments doing the same thing when they ignore, or worse, make fun of women who want to file charges about rape? Our society is biased enough against women. Apparently, in the minds of some, rape remains the fault of the woman and should not be a crime. This attitude, in today's world, is deplorable. No one, male or female, should have to worry about bodily harm or violation when they are going about their daily activities. Yet women do. And it's not women in poor, rundown places who worry. It's women from every walk of life.
18
The comments to this article make me very happy. It is high time women got angry and started speaking up loudly in public about the sexism and male domination discrimination so rampant in America. It's not women's imagination and it's not their fault - it's programmed into our society. Time to "un-program" it and for women to step up and take over one half the positions of power in America and the world. Right now there are too few women in power and they are constantly criticized and ridiculed for everything from the decisions they make to the way they dress even when they are doing an outstanding job. It's absurd to accept it in the 21st Century and WE must put a stop to it. Grassroots synergy and action are the paths to success. Women must stand up for other women when it is called for so all women can move ahead.
34
Yes! Perhaps American women need to follow what those in Iceland did not so long ago!
1
Misogyny is everywhere. I've lived and worked in large cities between the US and Europe and once a shy young business woman, became your stereotypical hard as nails business woman over time in reaction to this psychology. Educate and empower both your sons and daughters, it's the only way to create true equity.
25
We saw time and time again where women were discounted and officers would ask them: ‘Did you have an orgasm? Was this regret sex? Do you have a boyfriend?’”
To read this in the year 2016 is hard! It seems that police departments in certain, i hope not all, cities need education, education, education! And more female officers!
To read this in the year 2016 is hard! It seems that police departments in certain, i hope not all, cities need education, education, education! And more female officers!
16
Besides police departments and prosecutors offices being bastions for misogynistic males, a lot of their lack of concern for, blaming and belittling the victims can be attributed to laziness. Hollywood may depict some cops as being great crusaders for justice, but law enforcement is a job and it takes effort to properly investigate and prosecute crimes, especially sexual assault crimes like rape. It's a lot easier to discourage the victims than go after the perpetrators. So, rather than asking, "Why are you messing that guy's life up?", it would be more honest to say, "Look lady, I haven't got the time or the energy for your problem. You deal with it."
8
While the report on sex assault handling is clearly troubling, a lot of things point to the situation when actively prosecuting sex assaults will result in sending a lot of minority people from poor neighbourhoods behind bars. I hope people won't be surprised if this happens.
5
If these men are indeed guilty of rape and sexual assault, I don't care if the entire male population of a minority area finds itself behind bars. Protesting police bias does not mean that criminals should go scot-free if they happen to have melanin in their skin. It just means that blacks and whites are prosecuted equally for the same crime.
8
How many police or prosecutors will be fined, suspended or fired for dereliction of duty? I would hazard a guess the answer is none.
6
Einstein famously said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Baltimore has seen two Republicans in the mayor’s office since the 1920's and none since the 1960s'.
The corollary to Einstein's definition is to keep electing different corrupt left-wing politicians and expecting improvement.
The corollary to Einstein's definition is to keep electing different corrupt left-wing politicians and expecting improvement.
5
Yes, if only those republican politicians would come to power, then justice would be served to these rape victims because... ?
6
Well, we won't know until we give it a try will we? Or we can try another fifty years of the same and expect a different result.
As we tally up the arenas in which women are demeaned, treated as 2nd class citizens, assaulted, and worse, there is one inescapable conclusion, about which I wrote two days ago: sexism and rank misogyny are alive and well in this nation. The military has utterly failed to protect women from constant sexual assault, and in many cases, has drummed those who report such crimes out of the service. Police departments, fire departments, and other first responder services all continue to wink at rape and assault, and fail to follow up. Roger Ailes clearly had a lengthy history of harassment, but it took his termination of Gretchen Carlson to open the floodgates. Bill Cosby has yet to face justice for decades of rape and sexual assault of as many as 60+ women. Donald Drumpf has spent his entire adult life harassing and demeaning women who worked for him, and is being sued for raping a 13 year old. Sports figures routinely escape any consequences of sexual assault and battery - as do, clearly, white college athletes - after all, boys will be boys, won't they? Poor dears - they can't control their erections and testosterone when women have the temerity to "provocatively" walk by, or worse, drink in their company. The GOTP has savaged women's access to reproductive healthcare, abortion and contraception, because...well..."they need to be educated about the 'sanctity of life.'" Time to take control, women - the men are incapable of "protecting" anyone but their male colleagues.
29
"The military has utterly failed to protect women from constant sexual assault, and in many cases, has drummed those who report such crimes out of the service."
And the perpetrators get honorable discharges and preferential selection and, often, expedited training for careers in domestic law enforcement and corrections. A background in the military should suggest a need for remediation. And law enforcement funding should never be derived, in any way, from law enforcement activities.
And the perpetrators get honorable discharges and preferential selection and, often, expedited training for careers in domestic law enforcement and corrections. A background in the military should suggest a need for remediation. And law enforcement funding should never be derived, in any way, from law enforcement activities.
8
I have been a victim of abuse also more than Thirty years ago police were treating women as second rate citizens. I am a women but when I called the police to report an attack and rape I was told get a restraining order. But even then they would not enforce it. For more than two years I was abused and stalked by an ex. And they would just joke and say well just get a divorce or move. Sounds like nothing has changed in all of these years.
46
We talk so much about the subtle forms of sexism in our culture, the hard to describe invalidation of our opinions and experiences as women. This is not that. I wish all the progressive men who decry 'identity politics' and spent the last year man-splaining to women to look 'beyond gender' and elect Bernie Sanders would take five seconds and try to respect our deeply held belief that representation at all levels of government will help the women that liberal and conservative male politicians have failed miserably to protect. They deserve justice they'll never receive.
16
Anybody want to bet a couple hundred bucks that the bulk of the Baltimore PD and prosecutors support Donald Trump? Racist and sexist. Dismissive of others with no empathy at all. Yep, sounds familiar.
10
Doug Swanson - Not sure about the police but all the prosecutors are DEMOCRATS, look it up! Yep, sounds familiar!
2
This story destroys the knee-jerk boilerplate response to police misconduct: "most cops are good men and women just doing their jobs", doesn't it? At least in Baltimore.
But then, as Ken L from Houston observed: this isn't just a Baltimore thing, or a Detroit thing, or a Chicago thing, or a big city thing.
Ergo it's a "police thing".
Conclusion: the police are extremely dangerous and powerful, and often corrupt and/or incompetent/negligent.
But then, as Ken L from Houston observed: this isn't just a Baltimore thing, or a Detroit thing, or a Chicago thing, or a big city thing.
Ergo it's a "police thing".
Conclusion: the police are extremely dangerous and powerful, and often corrupt and/or incompetent/negligent.
10
“Why are you messing that guy’s life up?” This single quote says everything about the patriarchy in the American society. Forget about the girl whose dignity and personal freedoms were, literally, stripped from her, and the practically inevitable bouts of self-loathing and even PTSD she’ll go through, how will the poor guy survive with a criminal record?
It is humiliating and disappointing to me as a minority woman that we are so disregarded and disrespected. The very people who are paid to protect the law could not care less about the flagrant violations of these women’s Constitutional rights. These men tarnish the reputation of good, moral, and fair police officers who actually do their jobs. America is supposed to be the most civilized, forward-thinking nation of the world. We are supposed to set examples of how women and minorities are treated, yet it is because of people like this that we can’t live up to our reputation.
It is humiliating and disappointing to me as a minority woman that we are so disregarded and disrespected. The very people who are paid to protect the law could not care less about the flagrant violations of these women’s Constitutional rights. These men tarnish the reputation of good, moral, and fair police officers who actually do their jobs. America is supposed to be the most civilized, forward-thinking nation of the world. We are supposed to set examples of how women and minorities are treated, yet it is because of people like this that we can’t live up to our reputation.
52
There sure are a lot of articles about police abuses popping up lately. Which I suppose is a good thing. But..... I keep seeing suggestions that Baltimore should dismantle their police department, which it's been suggested is a very diverse department. Now either, the city is going to go completely lawless, since it is 63% black (just my stereoetyped biases showing, a very high black population usually coincides with a high crime rate, in my experience), or they are going to have to hire a new police force. Now with that same high crime rate/large black population, unless they have a very high starting salary, I would assume that most police officers would rather not have to work in a violent/crime ridden city (which I have seen Baltimore described as, more than once). So that would narrow down the list of applicants, which would probably include the more violent/aggressive type of police officer, that really likes to get into it with people. Which would lead to more of the same problems we have now.
2
While reading this article, one thought lingered in my mind. This is taking place in a first world country. A country that prides itself on justice and equality. Yet the behavior of the Baltimore police department mirrors the behavior of police departments in India and less developed nations. This problem is difficult to address, but solving it is of utmost importance. A world where women have no one to turn to after a man brutally rapes them is primitive and unjust. Something must be done to ensure that this country treats all people equally. Quite frankly, as long as this type of behavior by police exists, I will not feel comfortable watching my female family members going out alone.
31
Again with the we discovered a problem half of us struggle with daily!
Do something!
Take action!
Have zero tolerance for bigotry, jokes that harm!
Demand the same from public officials!
Let us be united, focused and unwavering!
Not a dime of tax $ spent to Violate Civil Rights!
Hire, vote for, promote & initiate meaningful conversations with women & Pwools who don't look like you!
Do something!
Take action!
Have zero tolerance for bigotry, jokes that harm!
Demand the same from public officials!
Let us be united, focused and unwavering!
Not a dime of tax $ spent to Violate Civil Rights!
Hire, vote for, promote & initiate meaningful conversations with women & Pwools who don't look like you!
10
To anyone reading this, don't think it's just a Baltimore thing, or a Detroit thing, or a Chicago thing, or a big city thing.
There are a lot of municipalities that fail to catalog rape kits properly, prosecute people that should be in jail for sexual assault, and just plainly fail to do their jobs as enforcers of the law.
This country is becoming more of a banana republic each and every day with all the shenanigans coming out of the dark.
There are a lot of municipalities that fail to catalog rape kits properly, prosecute people that should be in jail for sexual assault, and just plainly fail to do their jobs as enforcers of the law.
This country is becoming more of a banana republic each and every day with all the shenanigans coming out of the dark.
62
What bothers me most is that while it's not just a Baltimore thing, or a Detroit thing, or a Chicago thing, or a big city thing, it does seem to be just an American thing, at least among first-world countries.
"First-world", "advanced", "industrialized", yes. Civilized, not so much.
"First-world", "advanced", "industrialized", yes. Civilized, not so much.
18
My house was broken into in Baltimore in February 2014. The burglars used one of my credit cards to charge $1k worth of merchandise within 20 minutes of leaving my house. I visited the shop where they used my card, and the shop owners gave me a description of the four burglars. They also gave me the NAME and PHONE NUMBER of one of the burglars, who had left it with them. I gave this information to the police detective in charge of investigating the break-in of my house. He never pursued it! I called to complain, and he told me that the state's attorney had declined to go after four teenagers for breaking and entering and larceny because "all they would get is a slap on the wrist."
Yes. We have very high property taxes here in Baltimore. I'm paying over $4k a year in property taxes plus City taxes on my income. And what do I get in return? Failure by the police and prosecutors to go after criminals even when I did the detective work for them by identifying one of the burglars by name and phone number. Counting the days until I can leave this dysfunctional place.
Yes. We have very high property taxes here in Baltimore. I'm paying over $4k a year in property taxes plus City taxes on my income. And what do I get in return? Failure by the police and prosecutors to go after criminals even when I did the detective work for them by identifying one of the burglars by name and phone number. Counting the days until I can leave this dysfunctional place.
23
4k a year is a lot? A friend of mine, just yesterday, told me he's paying $26k a year in property taxes. Between that, his mortgage, and all his other taxes he has to work a second job and his wife went back to work several years ago and they are barely getting by. Fortunately, he's retiring soon. They will sell the house and leave the land of corruption, New York, forever.
1
Fire them all, starting with the top.
Why not, its not like they are interested in doing their jobs.
Why not, its not like they are interested in doing their jobs.
11
It's difficult to understand why any individual - no matter their race, gender, religion, and all other things that make people feel separate from the rest of the citizenry - would have the courage to become a police officer in Baltimore. It's clear that the people don't want you, the city administration does not want you, and the Federal government does not want you.
If physically and mentally qualified to become a police officer, there must be many cities throughout the country that welcomes and honors law enforcement professionals. If it were me, I'd go there!
If physically and mentally qualified to become a police officer, there must be many cities throughout the country that welcomes and honors law enforcement professionals. If it were me, I'd go there!
6
I know Baltimore well and regret seeing what has become of it. H.L. Mencken wrote three wonderful books about growing up in Baltimore and his career there as a journalist -- Happy Days, Newspaper Days and Heathen Days -- which I recommend heartily to anyone interested in a splendid summertime read and a look at Baltimore when it truly deserved its reputation as Charm City.
3
Some day somebody will recognize that there is a customer service aspect of all government jobs, including the police. When we recognize that customer service is as important as safety and security then maybe we can begin to fix the problems. Until then, I hold no delusions that the problems will ever be fixed.
8
If we had know how awful the Baltimore police department and the prosecutors offices are, we would not have sent our daughter to Hopkins. I hope that the Johns Hopkins University will hire an aggressive advocate to help its students deal with these deprived government agencies.
7
I live two blocks from Hopkins. While the city itself seems unsafe, the areas around Hopkins and the BMA are much safer than many other parts of the city. Your daughter will surely exercise common sense when walking around, and there is Hopkins Security at every corner most of the time. But I agree about the concern about the BCPD. They need a complete overhaul.
2
I find it amazing that in the year 2016, we as a country are still dealing with these attitudes towards women and rape. I have watched as our media, and our right wing politicians have demeaned, trivialized, and reduced women in our culture to sexual stereotypes which are then picked up by men as verbatim proof that all women are like that. The debacle at Fox news, and the consistent stories of rape within our military, are further proof that we have a real problem in this country that is not confined to any one institution. It is time for women to get off their laurels post Roe V Wade, and stand up against this new tyranny!
25
Tell me again why I'm supposed to give automatic, complete respect to this institution and its representatives at all times?
I read a comment telling us to "get real," because these cops do a gritty, difficult job and are not counselors or social workers. Maybe they should be required to be counselors. Maybe we should utterly change the institution, make it more like social work. Right now, the "good cops" who approach their job more in that social-work kind of spirit are being completely overruled and overwhelmed, by a systemic ugliness rooted in an even uglier history. As long as the norm is to "let it ride" and cover for fellow cops who do wrong things, I'm not at all reassured by the fact that there are "good cops."
I read a comment telling us to "get real," because these cops do a gritty, difficult job and are not counselors or social workers. Maybe they should be required to be counselors. Maybe we should utterly change the institution, make it more like social work. Right now, the "good cops" who approach their job more in that social-work kind of spirit are being completely overruled and overwhelmed, by a systemic ugliness rooted in an even uglier history. As long as the norm is to "let it ride" and cover for fellow cops who do wrong things, I'm not at all reassured by the fact that there are "good cops."
17
What is the point of a report? In Colorado, even a conviction results in no jail time. Count up the number of victims of Bill Cosby (across multiple states) who were ignored. Victims of Jerry Sandusky who were ignored. Victims on college campuses, in the military who are ignored.
Baltimore isn't worse than everywhere else. It's exactly the same.
Baltimore isn't worse than everywhere else. It's exactly the same.
8
Visited Baltimore years ago on a business trip and loved it. Always thought I'd go back but not now. Feel the same about much of the South. Have always figured that a place not safe for Black Americans isn't safe for women. A candidate not safe for... well, you get the point. It is true that until America works for all of us, it isn't safe.
50
Very sad indictment of our nearly entire legal and judicial system with only a few rare exceptions of quality professional conduct. Misogynistic cultural stereotypes and resulting disrespectful commentaries flourish behind the closed walls and doors of far too many of our civil institutions and we continue to allow it to happen. Until we change that, the perpetrators of these horrific crimes of violence and power will continue to assault; they know full well, nine times out of ten, they can and will get away with their crimes against people, that would be women and minorities, who our own society has systematically branded, and then treated politically, financially, socially, as weak, unworthy.
At some point, someone, no, everyone, must stand up and demand not only change, but justice. At this point I'm not optimistic, knowing that our current political power structure has been built for too long over too many decades, to favor appointing money-rich charlatans instead of leaders with proven character and professional integrity. Women have never been less safe and more vulnerable than they are today. And that is a national tragedy.
At some point, someone, no, everyone, must stand up and demand not only change, but justice. At this point I'm not optimistic, knowing that our current political power structure has been built for too long over too many decades, to favor appointing money-rich charlatans instead of leaders with proven character and professional integrity. Women have never been less safe and more vulnerable than they are today. And that is a national tragedy.
12
It's not easy to mistake the depths of misogyny, insensitivity, and bigotry against women in this country, and around the world. All we have to do is look at the behavior of the people who have power - police, state lawmakers, and worst of all, our national congressmen and senators. Their war on women, including refusal to pass an equal rights amendment, and their attempts to strip women of their right to manage their own reproduction is despicable. The police are actually at the bottom of the pecking order on this, but they take their cue from the behavior of state and national leaders. Our best bet is to be sure those leaders are not re-elected.
10
This attitude is pervasive in law enforcement, and women have known it for decades. Many years ago, as a young reporter, I was the subject of a remark by a man I was interviewing that was not only offensive; it was frightening, creepy and pornographic. He was a well-known professional in the town; this remark came out of the blue during an interview in his office. I filed a complaint with the police in that town - largely because I was afraid this man might try to contact me again, and I wanted this incident documented, because it was downright frightening. The detective taking down my complaint paused and said, "Are you sure he wasn't just complimenting you? You are fairly attractive." Women have been dealing with this for a long time; thank God the U.S. Department of Justice finally realizes it. As for women who have tried to file complaints of sexual assault on college campuses? The stories of the dismissive and offensive treatment they have received are legendary. At least, we are talking about these transgressions now.
15
When you have single-party politics running a lage city, you sre going to get this repeatedly - in ALL areas of civic gov't. You can't cross Manhattan east-to-west most of the time in less than 40 minutes, it is reported.
Meanwhile, NYC's different levels of gov't are only interested in reaping millions from the sale of city property.
People are apparently much more ignorant in the big cities because they never even consider other party candidates who aren't Democrats.
Who gave us Jim Crow? Democrats.
Who gives us ZERO self-defense guns? Democrats.
Who developed gerrymandering? Democrats.
Who are responsible for 75% of our national debt? Democrats.
Who spent the gold in Ft. Knox and the social security lock box?
You got it.
Meanwhile, NYC's different levels of gov't are only interested in reaping millions from the sale of city property.
People are apparently much more ignorant in the big cities because they never even consider other party candidates who aren't Democrats.
Who gave us Jim Crow? Democrats.
Who gives us ZERO self-defense guns? Democrats.
Who developed gerrymandering? Democrats.
Who are responsible for 75% of our national debt? Democrats.
Who spent the gold in Ft. Knox and the social security lock box?
You got it.
4
Every urban area across America that's been turned into a crime ridden cesspool all have one thing in common: they've been monopolized by Democrats for the past 50 to 75 years.
2
We need a global revolution. When women decide to put their fists in the air and fight back with our dollars, words and weapons, we will no longer be the planet's slaves.
9
Great that the nature of police is coming out from so many sources. Do not forget the function of police is enforcement of the rules, written and unwritten, that the rule makers have made. The "order" of things as serve the rule makers. Ideally the people would be the rule makers in a democracy, maybe one day that will be the case. To change the behavior of police the rule makers need to be changed.
24
Kevin Davis says “The challenge of interacting respectfully with victims of sexual assault is a challenge to our profession". This statement sums up why any man in law & order is unfit to handle sexual assault cases. Why is it challenging to interact respectfully with anyone, let alone a woman who has the courage to walk in and disclose the assault and perhaps even identify the attacker? If Mr. Davis finds being respectful to be a challenge, then he and his minions are grotesquely unqualified to be human beings let alone police officers. I am sick and tired of the way we behave as a society toward victims of sexual abuse. We pretend that this is a twisted tale of "he said, she said". And by doing so, we trivialize the impact of abuse and we make life a thousand times worse for the victim of abuse while further empowering the abuser a thousand times over. Every assault that a man or a teenager gets away with is an assault that empowers him to act on his wretched impulses over and over again. It is time for women to finally step up and take over these rotten establishments that provide protective cover to degenerate men who are protected by other degenerate men.
59
I respectfully disagree.
While it is absolutely true that victims of sexual crimes should be able to talk to female officers if they so choose, solving the problem by just shunting it off to female officers isn't a real solution. The real solution is for male officers to step up and do the right thing by respecting the victims of sexual crimes the same way they should be respecting the victims of other crimes.
This can be done right, if the department is truly committed to serving its citizens: A friend of mine recently reported a sexual assault to the police department of the City of Lakewood, Ohio (an inner-ring suburb just west of Cleveland). All the officers, male or female, that she interacted with were universally sympathetic, took the report seriously, and were absolutely willing to work with her to gather evidence and prosecute the perpetrator. Kudos to a fine department for doing absolutely the right thing in this situation. (This department has also handled other cases I have personal knowledge of very well, from burglaries to assaults to in one case an all-out brawl between rival Neo-Nazi groups.)
While it is absolutely true that victims of sexual crimes should be able to talk to female officers if they so choose, solving the problem by just shunting it off to female officers isn't a real solution. The real solution is for male officers to step up and do the right thing by respecting the victims of sexual crimes the same way they should be respecting the victims of other crimes.
This can be done right, if the department is truly committed to serving its citizens: A friend of mine recently reported a sexual assault to the police department of the City of Lakewood, Ohio (an inner-ring suburb just west of Cleveland). All the officers, male or female, that she interacted with were universally sympathetic, took the report seriously, and were absolutely willing to work with her to gather evidence and prosecute the perpetrator. Kudos to a fine department for doing absolutely the right thing in this situation. (This department has also handled other cases I have personal knowledge of very well, from burglaries to assaults to in one case an all-out brawl between rival Neo-Nazi groups.)
16
There's that darn Constitution interfering again.
1
Perhaps the Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby can change how the Baltimore police they are supposedly in charge of, interact with women.
10
They tried and they are getting used for their efforts.
3
Can confirm.
I will NEVER go to Baltimore again because of the way I was treated by the police after I reported an assault (non sexual) to an officer on the street. Broad daylight, and he was so verbally abusive to me that I told him "I am walking away now." He was caucasian, and about 40 years old or so. I am a caucasian professional, and his cruelty shocked me. He actually told me to get back in the car with the driver who had assaulted me.
The Fredie Gray incident happened a few days later.
Baltimore terrifies me. And, I hope never to return.
I will NEVER go to Baltimore again because of the way I was treated by the police after I reported an assault (non sexual) to an officer on the street. Broad daylight, and he was so verbally abusive to me that I told him "I am walking away now." He was caucasian, and about 40 years old or so. I am a caucasian professional, and his cruelty shocked me. He actually told me to get back in the car with the driver who had assaulted me.
The Fredie Gray incident happened a few days later.
Baltimore terrifies me. And, I hope never to return.
67
As somebody who's treated rape victims in the ER. I can testify that the only time the legal system will wholeheartedly help the victim is if she (or he) is:(1) white; (2) a virgin; (3) under 10 years old; (4) over 75 years old & crippled; (5) eight months pregnant & married.
In Chechnya, where the police & prosecutors are just as indifferent to rape as are the police & prosecutors in the US, fathers & brothers and (mothers & sisters) believe that the appropriate response to rape is rape.
They track the rapist, they find the rapist, they load their cameras, they rape the rapist, and they post the video on-line.
Given the huge number of paroled sex-offenders, I doubt it would cost much to duplicate those methods here.
In Chechnya, where the police & prosecutors are just as indifferent to rape as are the police & prosecutors in the US, fathers & brothers and (mothers & sisters) believe that the appropriate response to rape is rape.
They track the rapist, they find the rapist, they load their cameras, they rape the rapist, and they post the video on-line.
Given the huge number of paroled sex-offenders, I doubt it would cost much to duplicate those methods here.
4
So let me get this straight a majority minority police department with leadership primarily minority with a minority woman mayor is not only racist but also sexist?
31
No political competition locks in the least responsive elements of every society.
There was never any justice for victims of crime in Soviet Russia, either.
There was never any justice for victims of crime in Soviet Russia, either.
I'm sure you're wrong jacobi.
You're so lost that no one can help you. What does having a woman mayor have to do with it? When we talk about white supremacy and institutional discrimination we are talking about systems. When we talk about patriarchy we are talking about systems. The system doesn't change because the faces in power change. That often helps but it's not sufficient. A black person can uphold and promote white supremacy. A woman can uphold and promote patriarchy.
What I'm saying isn't even deep. It's common sense. Unplug your ears.
What I'm saying isn't even deep. It's common sense. Unplug your ears.
18
There is deep misogyny embedded in most cultures. The police come from society and reflect the biases that are prevalent in society. Unless they are trained thoroughly to disregard these biases they will bring them to the job; this will result in poisoning their interactions with female victims and female co-workers.
I hope we have reached a tipping point. It is demoralizing to hear over and over again how the same things keep happening. You would think that the many publicly reported instances of abuse by the police would get them to realize that the tide is turning.
I am all for unions but when police unions protect corrupt officers they are making it all the more difficult for the public to support them, and a time may come when unions will be gutted to the extent that they cannot protect deserving officers.
So, unions and officers please clean your own house or outside agencies will come in (and may throw the baby out with the bath water) and do what is needed so that the public gets a fair, competent and professional police force.
I hope we have reached a tipping point. It is demoralizing to hear over and over again how the same things keep happening. You would think that the many publicly reported instances of abuse by the police would get them to realize that the tide is turning.
I am all for unions but when police unions protect corrupt officers they are making it all the more difficult for the public to support them, and a time may come when unions will be gutted to the extent that they cannot protect deserving officers.
So, unions and officers please clean your own house or outside agencies will come in (and may throw the baby out with the bath water) and do what is needed so that the public gets a fair, competent and professional police force.
90
I'll make an obvious point for many of the people who have commented and are, apparently, unaware of it: most police men and women are not sensitivity counselors, life coaches or post-doc social work candidates. They do a gritty, dangerous job every day. They see people do terrible things to other people — sometimes, their own families. In a real sense, they become brutalized by their environment and, occasionally, callous to complaints. I would not want to have their job.
So, I think it's a bit much to ask the police to do this dirty, difficult job and be EST counselors at the same time. Is there room for improvement? Certainly. Are there abuses? No doubt. But, in evaluating police behavior, I think people who comment about them should first consider the environment they work in and then ... get real.
So, I think it's a bit much to ask the police to do this dirty, difficult job and be EST counselors at the same time. Is there room for improvement? Certainly. Are there abuses? No doubt. But, in evaluating police behavior, I think people who comment about them should first consider the environment they work in and then ... get real.
8
This is intellectually dishonest: no one is asking them to be counselors or life coaches. Vigorously investigating allegations of sexual assault, purusing offenders, processing rape kits: these things are called doing their job. You know, protect and serve?
They are not doing it. Or rather, they do it for some but not for all.
They are not doing it. Or rather, they do it for some but not for all.
3
You seem to think that all peace officers behave like the degenerates in Baltimore. They do not. You're the one who needs to get real.
2
then they should find other professions. If they cannot show compassion to the citizens that they are supposed to "protect and serve," then they are not worthy of wearing a badge. I have seen outright, abject cruelty from a police officer towards a crime victim (more than once) and it makes me furious. We are dealing with sociopaths with the government sanctioned ability to abuse the citizenry.
7
'In an interview, Capt. Steven Hohman, the commander of the department’s Special Investigations Section, which contains the Sex Offense Unit, declined to respond to individual examples in the report. “I believe that much of the work was being done,” Captain Hohman said. “We just weren’t very good at documenting.”'
How is it possible that Steven Hohman, I assume, is still in this 'leadership' position with the #BaltimorePoliceDepartment ? He makes his ignorance and indifference very plain. I mean did he really just reduce this to an issue of 'documenting'?!! Really?!!
DOCUMENTING?!
I tell you what... Let's all document him losing the daily opportunity to 'captain' abusing, killing, terrorizing, maiming and blaming black, poor Baltimoreans. He must go. Can you take care of that, Commissioner Davis?
How is it possible that Steven Hohman, I assume, is still in this 'leadership' position with the #BaltimorePoliceDepartment ? He makes his ignorance and indifference very plain. I mean did he really just reduce this to an issue of 'documenting'?!! Really?!!
DOCUMENTING?!
I tell you what... Let's all document him losing the daily opportunity to 'captain' abusing, killing, terrorizing, maiming and blaming black, poor Baltimoreans. He must go. Can you take care of that, Commissioner Davis?
22
It's a bit more complicated than that.
In quite a few cases, people in social housing, for example, "bend the rules". I.e. you have a situation when you live with a de-facto boyfriend, while reporting that you live alone, and thus receive more social cheques. Or a situation when a guy works a cash job off the books. Or something much more mundane, like leaving kids unattended.
If these facts get to social services workers, they have to act. If they go on record with these facts, you may end up with the situation when the punishment doesn't fit the crime, or punishes the wrong people to begin with.
In quite a few cases, people in social housing, for example, "bend the rules". I.e. you have a situation when you live with a de-facto boyfriend, while reporting that you live alone, and thus receive more social cheques. Or a situation when a guy works a cash job off the books. Or something much more mundane, like leaving kids unattended.
If these facts get to social services workers, they have to act. If they go on record with these facts, you may end up with the situation when the punishment doesn't fit the crime, or punishes the wrong people to begin with.
Baltimore should be ashamed. Question is, will anything really change? Not looking good.
6
Please update your style guide and policy when reporting on racism, sexism, homo- and transphobia.
"The report also described deep insensitivity [of Baltimore police officers] toward transgender people...one transgender woman...One transgender woman...said that an officer who was ordered to search her had protested in disgust...'I am not searching that.' Then the officer turned to the woman and declared: 'I don’t know if you’re a boy or a girl. And I really don’t care. I am not searching you.'"
That's not "deep insensitivity". Merriam-Webster defines insensitive as "not responsive or susceptible; lacking feeling or tact".
This is deep bigotry, as in the beliefs and actions of a bigot: "a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially: one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance."
"The report also described deep insensitivity [of Baltimore police officers] toward transgender people...one transgender woman...One transgender woman...said that an officer who was ordered to search her had protested in disgust...'I am not searching that.' Then the officer turned to the woman and declared: 'I don’t know if you’re a boy or a girl. And I really don’t care. I am not searching you.'"
That's not "deep insensitivity". Merriam-Webster defines insensitive as "not responsive or susceptible; lacking feeling or tact".
This is deep bigotry, as in the beliefs and actions of a bigot: "a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially: one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance."
15
“I believe that much of the work was being done,” Captain Hohman said. “We just weren’t very good at documenting.”
It sounds like the leadership is in denial about the degree of the problem they have. An honest person would look at this report and the accounts of women who have been ignored or badgered into silence and know that something has gone seriously wrong. This comment just shows how far the department has to go until the problem is fixed.
It sounds like the leadership is in denial about the degree of the problem they have. An honest person would look at this report and the accounts of women who have been ignored or badgered into silence and know that something has gone seriously wrong. This comment just shows how far the department has to go until the problem is fixed.
19
Baltimore may be one of the worse offenders, but this is going on all over the country to varying degrees. Women are treated way better in the US and western cultures for the most part than in many other parts of the world, including obviously the Middle East. Doesn't change the fact that even here, with as far as we have come, we are still so far from where we need to be on gender rights and civil rights. Money only provides some mitigation, in that the poorest among us are treated with the most contempt and are the easiest to victimize.
But ultimately, modern policing is still rooted in a 19th century foundation. The police force was started as a way to keep the masses of poor people crowding into major cities, like NY, Philadelphia, London, in line and not bothering the middle class and wealthy. Women had no rights and sexual assault was always seen as being the victims fault. And those attitudes towards the poor, minorities, and women have not evolved as much as we want to believe. Some of that underlying culture is still pervasive in law enforcement and the military. How do you retrain a persons character? How to you do rehabilitate a predilection towards misogyny, disrespect, and contempt of people seen as inferior that permeates our entire criminal justice system?
But ultimately, modern policing is still rooted in a 19th century foundation. The police force was started as a way to keep the masses of poor people crowding into major cities, like NY, Philadelphia, London, in line and not bothering the middle class and wealthy. Women had no rights and sexual assault was always seen as being the victims fault. And those attitudes towards the poor, minorities, and women have not evolved as much as we want to believe. Some of that underlying culture is still pervasive in law enforcement and the military. How do you retrain a persons character? How to you do rehabilitate a predilection towards misogyny, disrespect, and contempt of people seen as inferior that permeates our entire criminal justice system?
25
It is called leadership & training. Changing times calls for changes in methods. I'm sure law enforcement is using computers & other modern technology. Now their leadership needs to make sure that their workforce is getting better more modern training for dealing with a more diverse populace. And as in Dallas, San Francisco & other places they can learn new tactics & methods like de-escalating potentially violent situations. However, you have to have leadership willing to support that change including mayors, police leaders, Prosecutors, & community leaders. San Francisco mayor just had his top cop resign because such changes were not happening quickly enough.
1
They should fire the entire police force in Baltimore and start fresh. There is no way they will ever affect change if it doesn't start from the top down. It is rotten to the core and the bad apples are always protected. Who is doing the protecting, other bad cops or the ones who are supposedly good? It seems like this police force is comprised of a bunch of sadists who must have undoubtedly enjoyed victimizing the victims of crimes and the harassment of half the population. To think that their salaries are paid by taxes is sickening, they act like a bunch of goons propping up a dictator in a third world country, not a police force in America.
8
The problem is NOT "especially complex". Plain and simple truth: Women are second class citizens in America. Women do not have equality or justice in America. And if you are African American Then you have even double the trouble. And if you are poor? No hope for justice. And let's not even go into the contempt for our White daughters who are being raped on college campuses. Our society and men in power have contempt for all women.
137
Bravo, well said... When will American women wake up?
2
Remind me again how it is only a few bad apples and all cops are heroes.
27
A "challenge of interacting respectfully with victims of sexual assault"??? It's not rocket science - treat them like human beings.
And let's stop talking about the "failure" os the Baltimore Police Department - and others - to do the right thing. A failure is an 'oops.' This is a refusal - an intentional action. A very different thins.
And let's stop talking about the "failure" os the Baltimore Police Department - and others - to do the right thing. A failure is an 'oops.' This is a refusal - an intentional action. A very different thins.
38
Yes, the problem is systemic. And how do you address a systemic problem? You jail individuals who practice, promote or allow such violations of civil rights. I was infuriated to hear an investigator say that because the BPD problems are "systemic," addressing the problems would not include prosecuting individual bad actors. Ahem...It is only when individuals start going to jail that other individuals in the "system" start worrying about their own actions and start altering their behavior. Drug dealing and theft are also "systemic problems," but I don't hear anyone--especially in law enforcement--arguing against prosecuting the individuals who deal drugs or steal. Nothing will change in the BPD or other police departments until those who so grievously violate the citizens' trust face criminal prosecution and do hard time.
39
No, you don't cure a systemic problem by punishing individuals who do what the system is designed to encourage. Perhaps they should be punished for other reasons, but it isn't an effective method to change the system. You need change the system so that it doesn't encourage that kind of behavior. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to disregard the incentive structure that they act within.
1
JKW, you would let criminals go without punishment? That's a great way to encourage lawful behavior. Obviously you have to fix the rotten system, but each person makes individual choices to act lawfully or not. It makes no sense not to punish those who do wrong.
4
Can confirm. I reported a groper who was hanging out on the bridge in front of Barnes and Noble during the crowded Light City festival assaulting women. He grabbed my butt. I told a large group of cops who were standing by. One said "Did you like it?" and they all laughed in my face. The one woman among them looked at her shoes and said nothing. Pathetic
65
I wonder if the cops would have been so disinterested had you hauled off and clouted the pervert with your purse, or slammed your heel into his instep. Just sayin'.
2
Throughout the Times’ coverage of this Justice Dept report, I’m struck by the police’s discriminatory focus on “poor” neighborhoods when, obviously, they should be focusing on high-crime neighborhoods.
5
Define "crime". Under Bloomberg it was crime to drink alcohol in public - this was enthusiastically enforced in non-white neighborhoods with cartloads of people hauled off to the pens. Bloomberg himself was caught sipping wine in a public park and asked why it did not apply to him and the thousands of other white people sprawled out in public also with open bottles. His response: this is a different situation. Like beauty, crime is in the eye of the beholder - or more to the point, in the eye of the enforcer of the law. Wall Street is a High Crime neighborhood - yet not much police activity there. Same with all of the tony neighborhoods of manhattan where drug use is rampant.
1
this is no more about a bunch of bad LEOs than the horrors of Abu Ghraib were about a few depraved soldiers. those on the front lines are literally the hands of society as a whole. their behavior can be understood as expressions of societal attitudes, beliefs and mores. black lives don't matter. women don't matter. muslims definitely don't matter. their behavior is our mirror. take a good look.
25
So, anybody who was not a white male was considered inferior by the Baltimore police? Is that it?
8
Yes.
13
Oh, just get it over with and have the President take over every Police force in the U.S.
6
What else is new? It's everywhere, not just Baltimore.
9
Every time the police discredit a woman's claim of rape, they allow the rapist to be free to rape again.
40
Because to men of this mentality rape is sport.
Why else is rape considered a crime not worth prosecuting or even investigating.
Rape.
Man's favorite sport.
Surprised it hasn't made it to the Olympic teams yet.
Why else is rape considered a crime not worth prosecuting or even investigating.
Rape.
Man's favorite sport.
Surprised it hasn't made it to the Olympic teams yet.
7
There is a real problem in societies across the globe in dealing with sexual assaults. The problems just vary in degree, but they often have the common thread of disbelief of or disinterest in the victims. It is likely caused by the involvement of sex in the crime because sex is viewed as a desirable activity. In America, the attitudes are often present but hidden barely below the surface. Police officers are human beings with all our inherent foibles. It takes leadership and commitment by those in charge under these circumstances to ensure that sexual assaults are treated as serious violations and the victims of such crimes given respect and the help that they require.
8
All it took was to break wide open "who" the real bigots in this country have always been, was to elect a bi-racial president. Now, with a landslide almost imminent for Hillary Clinton, the hundreds of years of gender bias is finally rising to the top and being outed.
The reality is that MEN are exactly what women have been saying for thousands of years: bossy, overbearing, andocrats.
When all the rules are made by men who are raised to believe that men are superior beings, you get men who need inferiors. That's always minorities, women and children.
Time to clean up your act boys,. Your "It's a Man's World" attitudes are no longer acceptable.
The reality is that MEN are exactly what women have been saying for thousands of years: bossy, overbearing, andocrats.
When all the rules are made by men who are raised to believe that men are superior beings, you get men who need inferiors. That's always minorities, women and children.
Time to clean up your act boys,. Your "It's a Man's World" attitudes are no longer acceptable.
39
I am sure that a lot of women in general would agree with you. however, in their personal lives these are exactly the men they would choose as mates.
these kind of men are deemed, consciously or subconsciously, as being more masculine.
these kind of men are deemed, consciously or subconsciously, as being more masculine.
2
I read Jon Krakauer's book "Missoula, Rape and the Justice System in a College Town" mentioned in this article. It parses the events and legal cases in understandable, factual, yet shockingly bias detail and anyone who doubts that ignoring rape is a systemic problem should read the book.
13
Abuse of power, unchecked, unlimited, with impunity. Shameful.
8
Excessive, unchecked power vested in the police - in the government - is the issue, not the particular WAY that they choose to abuse their power.
1
failure of the police to accept a request to file a police report is a common occurrence I suspect nearly everywhere. it is certainly the case even in liberal NYC. it should be punishable by immediate dismissal.
15
Baltimore has not a Republican mayor in decades, so the anti-black and anti-woman bias of the police department reflects the systemic racism and sexism of the democratic politicians.
And yet the media continues to portray these hypocritical democrats as defenders of minorities and women, despite the clear evidence otherwise.
Even this report refuses to acknowledge how Baltimore's elected officials, all democrats, are accountable for these horrible practices.
I fear the democrats will use this report to increase spending, line the pockets of their constituents, and then republicans when the injustice continues. After all, that is all they have done for decades!
And yet the media continues to portray these hypocritical democrats as defenders of minorities and women, despite the clear evidence otherwise.
Even this report refuses to acknowledge how Baltimore's elected officials, all democrats, are accountable for these horrible practices.
I fear the democrats will use this report to increase spending, line the pockets of their constituents, and then republicans when the injustice continues. After all, that is all they have done for decades!
16
Abuse of power cuts across party lines. Neither the right nor the left has a monopoly on it.
8
While disturbing, this should hardly surprise anyone. When judges blame us - women - for sexual assault - when the attitude of "boys will be boys" remains prevalent - when internet porn is now available in one's phone - where women in the media are increasingly displayed as sex objects - where almost 50 years after Roe V Wade, we are still fighting for reproductive rights and access to Planned Parenthood - No, it is unfortunately no surprise.
45
Prosecutors and police officers who are either condoning accomplices or rapists themselves should be arrested and prosecuted just as any other predator.
No training would change their souls
No training would change their souls
12
Don't forget that the report says that "the culture extended to the prosecutors.
My philosophy continues. The police are hard to trust, but easy to fear.
11
How do you change a closed culture that has gone bad?
I don't think you can change this police department. You can improve it slightly at best. The only real way is to toss it out and start again, but just try firing even one of them who hasn't committed a crime that is absolutely egregious - which is why this is happening.
Just like Wall Street executives, we'll just leave the same bad actors in place, talk like there is going to be change, then act horrified when it changes a little, but not nearly enough to solve the problem.
We need better people to be police. The whole idea of hiring a bunch of ex military, high school educated, macho guys is behind the times and not effective. We need more women, higher intelligence and better educated people to be doing this. We need people will solve problems instead of escalating them.
The way we police just isn't working. They have been getting away with all kinds of malfeasance for much too long. The only reason this is being addressed is because of the invention of the smart phone. Everybody has a video camera on their belt or in their pocket, and the cops and their union enablers can't lie their way out of it any. We need better. Stop hiring out of the military and get some people with more brains and less testosterone. Teach them that they are peace keepers, not some kind of militia. Stop marching them around and giving them stripes and rank like "sergeant" and "lieutenant". Change the entire way we approach this.
I don't think you can change this police department. You can improve it slightly at best. The only real way is to toss it out and start again, but just try firing even one of them who hasn't committed a crime that is absolutely egregious - which is why this is happening.
Just like Wall Street executives, we'll just leave the same bad actors in place, talk like there is going to be change, then act horrified when it changes a little, but not nearly enough to solve the problem.
We need better people to be police. The whole idea of hiring a bunch of ex military, high school educated, macho guys is behind the times and not effective. We need more women, higher intelligence and better educated people to be doing this. We need people will solve problems instead of escalating them.
The way we police just isn't working. They have been getting away with all kinds of malfeasance for much too long. The only reason this is being addressed is because of the invention of the smart phone. Everybody has a video camera on their belt or in their pocket, and the cops and their union enablers can't lie their way out of it any. We need better. Stop hiring out of the military and get some people with more brains and less testosterone. Teach them that they are peace keepers, not some kind of militia. Stop marching them around and giving them stripes and rank like "sergeant" and "lieutenant". Change the entire way we approach this.
27
I have to disagree with Gerry about hiring former military members. In my experience, these people work together as a team, are more focused and disciplined, besides being trained in weapons and fighting. But you always have a few outliers, the guys that have the training, but not the mentality, to be good police officers. Those are the guys you read about, but for the most part, trained soldiers, make good police officers.
When men "not only in USA. but in the whole world" stop demeaning women? It is a kind of like a puzzle!
In addition to that question, we have intolerable cases here. Instead of concerning about uneducated, morally bad people who persistently still raping women ranging from 10 years old to mid-ages, we have also officers, and honestly it's unsurprising. Officers whom we trust to keep our lives in safe, whom we trust if we had trouble, we immediately and blindly contact them, but recently they failed to meet our expectations toward them. In fact, many sexual violations toward women have increasingly jumped up, and yet government are not willing to pay a serious attention to tackle this harsh, severe violations which they are consequences of either officers or mouth-eaten police departments who they keep neglecting to deal with those assaults cases.as. Therefore, violations statistically keep growing up steadily.
Certainly, the problem stemmed from three things. First and foremost, recruitment processes should be merciless for such sensitive jobs to avoid those irresponsible, mean officers which they are recklessly keeping violate and assault women over and over. Moreover, massive training are required to enlighten those officers in term of how to deal with people especially women, and how to deal with such those cases. Both effectively will eliminate and mitigate the extensions of sex violations crimes.
In addition to that question, we have intolerable cases here. Instead of concerning about uneducated, morally bad people who persistently still raping women ranging from 10 years old to mid-ages, we have also officers, and honestly it's unsurprising. Officers whom we trust to keep our lives in safe, whom we trust if we had trouble, we immediately and blindly contact them, but recently they failed to meet our expectations toward them. In fact, many sexual violations toward women have increasingly jumped up, and yet government are not willing to pay a serious attention to tackle this harsh, severe violations which they are consequences of either officers or mouth-eaten police departments who they keep neglecting to deal with those assaults cases.as. Therefore, violations statistically keep growing up steadily.
Certainly, the problem stemmed from three things. First and foremost, recruitment processes should be merciless for such sensitive jobs to avoid those irresponsible, mean officers which they are recklessly keeping violate and assault women over and over. Moreover, massive training are required to enlighten those officers in term of how to deal with people especially women, and how to deal with such those cases. Both effectively will eliminate and mitigate the extensions of sex violations crimes.
4
"If nothing changes, nothing changes." Retaining the same command structure guarantees business as usual. Where's the new commissioner? An inspector general? New internal affairs chief? Massive reorganization and training and oversight, at a minimum, are required.
3
Great article. Now you want to look at some of the things that judges say to women, esp. domestic violence victims, here in Charm City. You'll want to include Baltimore County on that one.
7
Unfair treatment of woman hurts everyone. But make no mistake about it, every time we fail and refuse to hold cops accountable for lawlessness, we embolden them further. And to make matters worse, not only to we refuse to hold them accountable for their harmful and shameful acts, we then call them "heroes". Time to wake up and realize that not only do they hurt black men and woman but they hurt everyone. The mentality that they are above the law puts us all in danger and emphasizes deeply embedded bias and prejudice. This has to stop. It must stop. We hardly need to worry about the dangers of Trump for we can simply not vote for him. On the other hand look at the horrific police state we have already created. How do we get rid of that? The answer, by the way, should start with ending the ridiculous drug wars, the vehicle by which the cops have become increasingly rouge and dangerous to the public.
11
What is this? Driving, walking, existing while not white male? For the distaste for both candidates, Clinton might win as backlash against the Trump white male phenomena.
3
"Here's all you need to know about men and women. Women are crazy and men are stupid. And the reason women are crazy is because men are stupid." - George Carlin
10
"...he was already taking steps, including putting a trusted captain in charge of a new sex offense unit and assigning a sergeant to act as an 'L.G.B.T. liaison'...”
I would like to think that the "trusted captain" is femaile but as poor as this department sounds (1) it's doubtful there are any "trusted" women at all in this department. ...and how about that sergeant?
I would like to think that the "trusted captain" is femaile but as poor as this department sounds (1) it's doubtful there are any "trusted" women at all in this department. ...and how about that sergeant?
2
One of the defendants in the Gray case was a black woman, a lieutenant, as I recall.
7
Perhaps the African American Female Mayor and African American Female AG in Baltimore should get together with the African American Female United States AG and actually "do something" instead of reporting, and complaining. All of these people were elected or appointed to "do something".
Enough of the constant complaining, and shocking reports. Do something, or get out of the way and let someone else do it
Enough of the constant complaining, and shocking reports. Do something, or get out of the way and let someone else do it
14
You mean, like a White Male? In a system historically constructed and administered by White Males? This systemic bias didn't begin in Baltimore nor is it the brain child of Black law enforcement. A problem must first be named and described before it can be solved.
15
How many years is it now that we have known the Baltimore police department, of course with exceptions, to be an outrageous scourge?
2
The police are used in so many places as revenue raisers these days.
7
Police reflect the society they live in and the treatment of women by police reflects deeper problems. I long ago concluded that assaulted women are poorly treated because many men just don't see rape as a problem - unless it is rape of men. I believe part of this is the result of expanded definitions of rape, which suggest to some it is a disagreement, rather than an act of violence, a bodily assault.
To correct this, the depiction of women across media must change. Laws will not change behaviors until the images our children are constantly exposed to are made consistent with the message: they are now dramatically inconsistent, particularly on the internet, but also in film, where too many women serve as sexual toys, deprived of essential humanity.
To correct this, the depiction of women across media must change. Laws will not change behaviors until the images our children are constantly exposed to are made consistent with the message: they are now dramatically inconsistent, particularly on the internet, but also in film, where too many women serve as sexual toys, deprived of essential humanity.
12
One very real issue is accountability, of which there is none for police. One person made the comment that a woman should head up the sexual assault unit, which is a very good idea, but it should be the right woman.
11
And in this case black police officers are not exempt. But it is not just police officers. The worst tragedy is that in our society women discriminate against other women and accuse them of asking for it, too. Ignorant, inexperienced, and naive women are the main obstacle to those that want to assert the rights of women. These uninformed and unaware women are an obstacle to progress when they enable and support inadequate men that want to assert power in their incapacity.
4
No, the main obstacle for women trying to assert their rights is systemic sexism and the essentially misogynistic nature of most human societies. Stop blaming women for their own oppression.
12
What a well written and thoughtful article. Thank you.
4
One very important way to systemically change the hostility, bias, and violence against women is a generational one: women and men, mothers and fathers, teachers and grandparents and anyone in a role model situation teach your sons better...to not bully, look down upon, hate, or violate any girl or woman. Yes, that's slow and not the only things we must do, but we as a society have a duty to change our culture of rape and mysogeny. Once and for all. To transform our culture for all time.
8
The Obama administration is addicted to political spin and has lost its credibility.
Why now, should Americans believe a report from the Justice department is not just more "political spin"?
Why now, should Americans believe a report from the Justice department is not just more "political spin"?
8
If I try to convince people that you are a fool, but I provide no evidence of this, why would anyone believe me? And as you provide no evidence of what you claim, we don't believe you (but we think you are a fool.)
9
Well thank you Justice Dept! This news? I am not the least bit surprised. And we see here the good hand of our black president and one more reason to follow with our first woman at the helm. A very sane and emotionally grown up woman. Oh yeah!!
3
"the good hand of our black president.." who has been in office all the time that this has been going on !!! How is that a compliment to the man and a recommendation for the woman that you expect to follow him. The city of Baltimore has been in Democrat hands for the last 20+ years and despite all the feel good talk from Martin O'Malley and his successors, little has changed.
4
It is not a surprise that the Baltamore Police department is little more than a gang in the employ of the city political machine. Anyone who knows the history of city police in American cities knows that the original "coppers" were just thugs on the city payroll. Remember that Teddy Roosevelt made his political name cleaning up the NYC PD and bringing professionalism to the force.
Instead of lamenting the situation it is time to require a four year college degree in criminal justice, a psychological analysis and racial, gender and ethnic diversity for all American police departments as a minimum and provide pay and benefits. That along with strict oversight by civilian appeals boards with teeth.
And yes taxes will need to be raised and police unions reformed to achieve honest and fair policing
Instead of lamenting the situation it is time to require a four year college degree in criminal justice, a psychological analysis and racial, gender and ethnic diversity for all American police departments as a minimum and provide pay and benefits. That along with strict oversight by civilian appeals boards with teeth.
And yes taxes will need to be raised and police unions reformed to achieve honest and fair policing
14
I think the psychological analysis is very important. If the reason you want to join the police is because you like the power and weapons that come from it, then I would rather have you screened out before you hurt someone!
7
Does any of this really surprise anyone? Police have always thought they are above the law. I am medicare age white male and basically have nothing at all to do with the police. Sure I want them when I need them, but that has happened on once in my life.
If I see a policeman on the street, I avoid eye contact and steer clear of them. What is being revealed in this article and the atrocities against black males, has been in existence for many many years. I feel for those offenders who were convicted of a crime solely on the policemen statement at trial. Imagine how many of our citizens have been incarcerated or convicted of a crime based on officer testimony and sometimes juries ignoring witness accounts and taking the policemen's testimony as fact.
As the article I read a couple years ago stated, "the treatment of our citizens by the zealous police has been in existence for a very long time, it just that now everyone who has a cell phone has a camera!
If I see a policeman on the street, I avoid eye contact and steer clear of them. What is being revealed in this article and the atrocities against black males, has been in existence for many many years. I feel for those offenders who were convicted of a crime solely on the policemen statement at trial. Imagine how many of our citizens have been incarcerated or convicted of a crime based on officer testimony and sometimes juries ignoring witness accounts and taking the policemen's testimony as fact.
As the article I read a couple years ago stated, "the treatment of our citizens by the zealous police has been in existence for a very long time, it just that now everyone who has a cell phone has a camera!
12
Finally someone is telling it true: women in general face as much harassment and bigotry as black men. If women used violence as a form of retaliation the way many men do, we might well have a war on our hands.
24
So, let's really get all the details:
Show us details on the race and gender of the police generating misconduct,
details in "proportion" to their "representation" on total police force of course
(since "proportional representation" is all the rage now when it comes to "studies" of racial and gender bias), and not counting Hispanic as "white":
So, let's get the detail:
(1) Police misconduct incidents involving white male officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of white male officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens, (b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
(2) Police misconduct incidents involving white female officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of white female officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens, (b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
(3) Police misconduct incidents involving non-white male officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of non-white male officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens, (b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
(4) Police misconduct incidents involving non-white female officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of non-white female officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens,(b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
Show us details on the race and gender of the police generating misconduct,
details in "proportion" to their "representation" on total police force of course
(since "proportional representation" is all the rage now when it comes to "studies" of racial and gender bias), and not counting Hispanic as "white":
So, let's get the detail:
(1) Police misconduct incidents involving white male officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of white male officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens, (b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
(2) Police misconduct incidents involving white female officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of white female officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens, (b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
(3) Police misconduct incidents involving non-white male officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of non-white male officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens, (b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
(4) Police misconduct incidents involving non-white female officers (as a "proportion" of the total number of non-white female officers on the relevant police force) and (a) white male citizens,(b) white female citizens, (c) non-white male citizens and (d) non-white female citizens.
2
The race of the officers was not the basis of the complaints nor were complaints against white officers. Baltimore in fact has many minority officers. The point of the article, which you have seemed to have missed, is that women in general are often badly treated by police when reporting sexual assaults. It seems to be particularly bad in poor minority communities. Perhaps you need to read it more closely.
7
Nothing new here unless it's America's white middle class finally discovering how things are not only in Baltimore but across the country. Of course the outrage will have dissipated by tomorrow.
15
One of the most dangerous things to be in America and the world is female, especially a young white female in a majority black or brown city.
4
Are you for real @Mary? Please, let's see some stats to back up that unfounded comment.
2
So much hogwash and I wonder who gave you the confidence to say something like that. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of women and girls that go missing are BLACK WOMEN!
Will “good, decent people,” look and see this real concrete evidence that bigotry is real, and living in our hearts and minds? I watch myself, and try to be aware of what I think about groups of people. Sometimes I find myself applying a judgement to entire groupings of people. Without trying, I can find myself having bigoted feelings or passing judgements on someone based on their skin color, country of origin, voice, accent, religious / no religious belief, republicans, democrats, sexuality, conservative, liberal, employment, clothes, body shape, facial appearance, or physical or mental challenges. I try to check myself, talk to others, & use reason to be rational to stop it. It can be difficult because I don’t see it for many reasons such as high emotions, sudden happenings. Talking to bigots makes it worse. Bigotry is always available for anyone of us to choose to allow to exist in our hearts & minds. We can choose to see it, or not. All republicans are… All democrats are… All those people are… Sometimes it is no more than an odd feeling of discomfort. I don’t think I am the only person that this happens to. If you see or hear bigotry speak up, say something to that person, or communicate to them, their bigotry.
20
I have to agree with Martha. For as many people that I know that swear that they are not in the least bigoted/prejudiced/racist, if you pay attention to their actions or remarks, nearly everyone shows some racism or prejudice at some point or another, I know I do. Whether it is stereotyping they way someone is dressing, or the accent they speak with, to being nervous around certain ethnicities or religions, it is a challenge to be 100% unbiased when dealing with a very diverse cross section of people.
2
I did not include in that list bigotry based on gender. Women are... Men are... And bigotry can affect as: Those people are all good. or Those people are all bad. Which grouping of people is the best or greatest? Which country is the best or greatest country? We must be ever vigilant to end bigotry, and protect our freedoms, our liberty.
2
What is it going to take for everyone to finally get it? We have a police problem.
60
We've had 'police problem' for a long time. As long as there are people full of themselves abusing authority, it will never go away.
3
Bias is bias. People who are biased do not draw the line at color, sex or sexual orientation. Would a candidate like Trump even be in the running if we were a biased free society? For years’ politicians’ have used our biases to their advantage and the sad part is that we have allowed it. Our police are a reflection of the society they serve. In a city like Baltimore one would think with an administration led by a woman of color racial or sexual bias would not be tolerated. It is tolerated because no one truly wants to be the one who rocks the boat. Calls for more body cameras and more training are just ways of dodging the real issue. Is there any training available anywhere that will remove prejudice? We are a society that allows bias of people who don’t look and worship as we do. More than half of our population thinks it’s something sinister about being a Muslim. These are the same people who think our president is some kind of Manchurian Candidate. We have no control over what a person does or think in their private lives but we sure do when they decide they want to work for us. The rank and file are a reflection of their leaders. If we are ever to level the playing field we have to start at the top not at the bottom. .
31
The rank and file may be a reflection of their leaders but, if so, that leadership includes their Fraternal Order of Police union leadership. For most police departments the police union is the number one impediment to addressing a department's problems.
6
Then we need bosses who are truly bosses! The problem is police leaders want to play both sides of the fence. On one hand they want to steer the ship and on the other hand they let it be known they could really care less how the ship gets to port! If there is any leader who feigns ignorance of what is going on in his or her organization they are in the wrong job.
1
Why should women being treated disrespectfully by police be a surprise? We're treated that way by many men in society that just gets brushed off and ignored everyday, in all settings. In addition, we're in the middle of a disgusting election year in which an egotistical, racist, and misogynistic narcissist is the run-away favorite candidate among white men.
The mask has fallen, and people can no longer pretend that it's only a small number of men that are contemptuous and dismissive of women, if not downright misogyistic. Women are over 50% of the population and it's time the status quo was overturned once and for all.
The mask has fallen, and people can no longer pretend that it's only a small number of men that are contemptuous and dismissive of women, if not downright misogyistic. Women are over 50% of the population and it's time the status quo was overturned once and for all.
137
Sadly, there are so many violent and misogynist males in the U.S. and around the world because their parents - mostly moms when their trophy sons are young - amplify endemic societal, cultural and religious sexism by telling them they are unique and worth more than all females. It's a way for the mothers to maintain control over their meal ticket sons in many families and cultures. Not surprisingly, the daughters are throwaway unwanted children in the family, discarded by parents and abused by those sons, their brothers, which serves to confirm for the fragmented sons that females are less. It's hard to imagine the human species ever evolving beyond gender violence toward girls and women, especially given how pervasive are the enormous male emotional insecurities and mental deficiencies that manifest in power and control issues toward females everywhere and of every species. It truly is a sickness, a reptilian pathology.
8
I learned many years ago when I was in a position of authority that this type of behavior is due primarily to a continuous lack of supervision and leadership from those in charge. The blame for this lies at the feet of those in charge more than on the individuals.
73
But when you have a union that protects those at fault from any efforts to punish those responsible, it undercuts the authority. It could be poor supervision, but in these cases it could be other causes.
In St. Petersburg Florida a cop was driving his patrol car at night, speeding, not answering a call. He killed someone crossing the street in a wheelchair. He was fired and got his job back. The judge said that the firing was not "progressive". So the "supervision" was undermined.
Here is a case of lack of supervision. Just the other day a cop in Punta Gorda Florida shot and killed a woman during a demonstration. He was supposed to have put blanks in the gun. Instead he killed her with live ammunition with her husband and others standing nearby. He previously had worked for another police department. He had sicced a police dog on a man riding a bike at night without a light. The man tried to ride away from him. The dog chewed part of the muscle out of his arm. There is video of this. The department allowed him to "resign for personal reasons." He got re-hired in Punta Gorda, and now a woman is dead because he fire live ammunition at her instead of blanks. If there had been "supervision", he would have been fired on the spot instead of being allowed to resign, and that woman would still be alive. Do you suppose they'll fire him now? There is also a cop on duty in St. Augustine who shot his girlfriend in the mouth. See "A Death In St. Augustine" on Frontline.
In St. Petersburg Florida a cop was driving his patrol car at night, speeding, not answering a call. He killed someone crossing the street in a wheelchair. He was fired and got his job back. The judge said that the firing was not "progressive". So the "supervision" was undermined.
Here is a case of lack of supervision. Just the other day a cop in Punta Gorda Florida shot and killed a woman during a demonstration. He was supposed to have put blanks in the gun. Instead he killed her with live ammunition with her husband and others standing nearby. He previously had worked for another police department. He had sicced a police dog on a man riding a bike at night without a light. The man tried to ride away from him. The dog chewed part of the muscle out of his arm. There is video of this. The department allowed him to "resign for personal reasons." He got re-hired in Punta Gorda, and now a woman is dead because he fire live ammunition at her instead of blanks. If there had been "supervision", he would have been fired on the spot instead of being allowed to resign, and that woman would still be alive. Do you suppose they'll fire him now? There is also a cop on duty in St. Augustine who shot his girlfriend in the mouth. See "A Death In St. Augustine" on Frontline.
13
Superviros and those in charge certainly are culpable, but you can't deflect personal responsibility. Each individual MUST own his or her actions. Period.
1
The word of law itself rests on the notion that we are each responsible for our own actions. I cannot disagree that the supervision would have to be lacking for such behavior to even exist. However, it would be hard to say that these supervisors are somehow more to blame than the persons actually committing these actions.
I'm not surprised that Baltimore police were found to have been unprofessional, dismissive of sexual assault complainants, and hostile towards sex workers and transgender citizens.
Even good departments have to work hard to address these issues, and Baltimore seems to be far from a good department.
However, is this the only gender bias in the department? I hardly believe it.
What are the statistics for victims of police shootings? What about excessive force? I suspect they mirror the statistics of society as a whole.
According to the Guardian's excellent work on this topic, nationwide, about 600 black men and 1200 white men were shot and killed by police last year. Less than 100 women, of every race, were shot and killed. Google it for precise statistics.
Is there a difference in how police in Baltimore treat men and women? According to the Justice Department, yes.
But it seems only important enough to investigate and report on when that gender bias negatively affects people who are not men.
Even good departments have to work hard to address these issues, and Baltimore seems to be far from a good department.
However, is this the only gender bias in the department? I hardly believe it.
What are the statistics for victims of police shootings? What about excessive force? I suspect they mirror the statistics of society as a whole.
According to the Guardian's excellent work on this topic, nationwide, about 600 black men and 1200 white men were shot and killed by police last year. Less than 100 women, of every race, were shot and killed. Google it for precise statistics.
Is there a difference in how police in Baltimore treat men and women? According to the Justice Department, yes.
But it seems only important enough to investigate and report on when that gender bias negatively affects people who are not men.
3
How can this be..Baltimore has been run by progressive whites and blacks since just after WW2. Everyone of them a Democrat..I thought only republicans hated women, blacks, minorities, gays etc. Please don't tell me it is the officers. The police take direction from the top.
7
Baltimore may have been run by "progressives" but the all powerful police union thanks to the state officials in bed with them are the ones really "at the top" when it comes to addressing deviant behavior.
http://www.aclu-md.org/uploaded_files/0000/0681/walker_-_baltimore_polic...
http://www.aclu-md.org/uploaded_files/0000/0681/walker_-_baltimore_polic...
5
it should come as no surprise that the majority of the BCPD are white, suburban, racist and Republican. They toy with the blacks in our city for kicks, and routinely use the N word, without fear of repercussions. Come to our city one day, and see for yourself.
8
Scene: Chicago apartment blgd (not upscale)
Time: 1990s ~ 9 PM
I hear commotion down the hall. A woman's voice saying, "Give me my money." More commotion. A door slamming & hall door open/close. Quiet.
About 20 minutes later: knocking on a door down the hall. Opened. Conversation:
Man: She took my wallet.
Cop: Ok, who was she? Wife? Girlfriend?
Man: Ah... No. You know, man.
Cop: Oh, ok man, we get it. Know her name?
Man: Roxanne
Cop: Oh, WE know Roxanne. Ok, thanks, man.
Door closes. Hall door opens. Sounds of cops (2) going down the stairs.
Cop's voice from stairwell: Oh, Rox-AN-ane
Apparently a man can tell a Chicago cop that he had a prostitute in his home, but is the cops' buddy called "man." The woman, who took his wallet because the creep didn't pay her, was to be arrested.
Time: 1990s ~ 9 PM
I hear commotion down the hall. A woman's voice saying, "Give me my money." More commotion. A door slamming & hall door open/close. Quiet.
About 20 minutes later: knocking on a door down the hall. Opened. Conversation:
Man: She took my wallet.
Cop: Ok, who was she? Wife? Girlfriend?
Man: Ah... No. You know, man.
Cop: Oh, ok man, we get it. Know her name?
Man: Roxanne
Cop: Oh, WE know Roxanne. Ok, thanks, man.
Door closes. Hall door opens. Sounds of cops (2) going down the stairs.
Cop's voice from stairwell: Oh, Rox-AN-ane
Apparently a man can tell a Chicago cop that he had a prostitute in his home, but is the cops' buddy called "man." The woman, who took his wallet because the creep didn't pay her, was to be arrested.
36
So you are advocating the right to steal someone's wallet over a business transaction?
2
Why not ... that's what was taught at Trump University.
Men treat women badly in all areas of our lives. Its not surprising they do it in the police force as well. Why don't we have women heading the sexual assault departments and have them fully funded?
232
Why are you assuming it's only male police officers that would treat an assault victim (male or female) poorly?
4
If I remember correctly the prosecution of the "wilding" gang rape of the woman in Central Park was a woman. And she was certain she was prosecuting the actual perpetrators. After she won her case she went on to making a nice living writing books.
Oh wait, the young men she got convicted were exonorated years later.
Oh wait, the young men she got convicted were exonorated years later.
4
@terri-
The answer to your question is that often female PO's and prosecutors are no better, that because the victims are often poor and marginilized people, they share the contempt that their male brethren have. The culture is not just men (though from what I have seen, it is much worse in PO's and prosecutors offices with few women), the thin blue line corrupts them all. It is much like the world Joseph Wambaugh wrote about in his books about the LAPD, where in one book a racist cop figures out he really likes his partner, who is black, because the partner thinks of the blacks in the area they serve as animals, too. Female PO's and prosecutors fall into the same culture, too.
The answer to your question is that often female PO's and prosecutors are no better, that because the victims are often poor and marginilized people, they share the contempt that their male brethren have. The culture is not just men (though from what I have seen, it is much worse in PO's and prosecutors offices with few women), the thin blue line corrupts them all. It is much like the world Joseph Wambaugh wrote about in his books about the LAPD, where in one book a racist cop figures out he really likes his partner, who is black, because the partner thinks of the blacks in the area they serve as animals, too. Female PO's and prosecutors fall into the same culture, too.
2
I am not very hopeful, as biases run deeper than people are willing to admit. Just look at the presidential polls -- Donald Trump is still pulling in support from 40% of voters, after demeaning women, minorities, and the disabled.
159
Thank you for saying exactly what I've been thinking, because, as a woman, if I dare say say that Clinton is the better candidate, I'm told that I like her only "because she's a woman."
127
And Hillary Clinton by her actions will ignore the poor and the downtrodden. She doesn't talk about them much. Same difference. Actions speak.
6
In addition, his highest support is with men.
8
Hug a cop? Hmm; let me think about that.
15
Trust a cop? Not a chance. They are not interested in anything but being "the man", whether male or female. They should be doing PED testing on cops every day that they work. We are the enemy...they don't remember that we, the citizens, are their employers.
2
Do the people of Baltimore still have to pay the salaries for the Baltimore PD? How about disbanding it completely?
25
I am truly shocked at the way victims are treated by the police. A woman is a woman, be it White, Black, Brown or others. All women are conservative and they do not boldly and openly speak about sexual assault suffered by them. Only in rare cases will a woman falsely accuse a man of sexual assault. Therefore, the police officers should be more mindful of the trauma suffered by the victims and investigate the matter in all seriousness to unearth the truth or otherwise of the charge. A woman who reports sexual assault is already bleeding at heart. Foul mouthing such a victim is only like subjecting her to second assault, mentally and psychologically. It is high time police officers are sensitized about this problem and lend a helping hand to the victims.
I think, the bottom line is, to be born a black is a pitiable one. To be born a black woman is more pitiable. To be born a black woman and suffer sexual violence is most pitiable.
I think, the bottom line is, to be born a black is a pitiable one. To be born a black woman is more pitiable. To be born a black woman and suffer sexual violence is most pitiable.
13
Black women are much stronger than you think, save your pity.
39
Maybe pity is the problem here? To pity is to feel sorry for somebody from a distance, while empathy is to feel sorry with them, to share in it, and through that sharing, come to understand it. -- Maybe if more people had empathy instead of pity, this wouldn't even be a problem.
Maybe it's just a choice of wording, but it's important to recognize the distinction. Nobody wants to be pitied -- it can feel disrespectful and even offensive. But, I find that when another person is feeling with you, coming to meet you at your emotions to share them with you, and have a greater understanding through that...it's a whole different story.
Maybe it's just a choice of wording, but it's important to recognize the distinction. Nobody wants to be pitied -- it can feel disrespectful and even offensive. But, I find that when another person is feeling with you, coming to meet you at your emotions to share them with you, and have a greater understanding through that...it's a whole different story.
11
You have got to be kidding! No matter the color a woman's strength for handling personal assaults, by word or deed, should never be tested.
Apparently there are tens of thousands of "rape kits" that have never even been examined in cities and towns across the United States.
A woman submits to a painful, emotionally-difficult physical examination after she has been raped to collect evidence for prosecution of the rapist.
And no one in law enforcement even bothers to look at the evidence.
That tell you everything you need to know about how America's legal system, both police and prosecutors, regards the rights of a woman who has been raped and women in general.
"Tough lucky, Lady. It was probably your fault anyway."
A woman submits to a painful, emotionally-difficult physical examination after she has been raped to collect evidence for prosecution of the rapist.
And no one in law enforcement even bothers to look at the evidence.
That tell you everything you need to know about how America's legal system, both police and prosecutors, regards the rights of a woman who has been raped and women in general.
"Tough lucky, Lady. It was probably your fault anyway."
231
Per a friend of mine the number is actually hundreds of thousands. There are so many that many police departments don't even bother to count the ones they have tossed into closets and drawers to be forgotten.
> "Apparently there are tens of thousands of "rape kits" that have never even been examined in cities and towns across the United States"
REALITY-CHECK: There are both valid, and invalid reasons why some rape kits aren't tested, but as a first consideration it is important to note that it is expensive to test these kits- {I've read numbers that range from $1,000-3,000}. There are certain situation where the facts indicate that no prosecutable case can be brought {mattress-girl}; in many cases like this, sending in a kit would be a waste of limited law enforcement funds
Congress recently dealt with a stupid law in this regard, that mostly just told police departments to do, what they already do, but do it better. AND, it also mandated a lot of expensive boards, commissions, & etc.
MUCH BETTER, is simply to require all Rape-Kits be sent to a new FBI Lab that does nothing but handle those kits. This would actually ensure that all kits get tested, AND by streamlining & specializing; they should be able to massively reduce turnaround, and MASSIVELY cut to processing costs. {Under the current system, independent labs have every incentive to jack up the costs as high as they can get away with, under an FBI-Lab their goals would be quality, efficiency, & cost-effectiveness}
REALITY-CHECK: There are both valid, and invalid reasons why some rape kits aren't tested, but as a first consideration it is important to note that it is expensive to test these kits- {I've read numbers that range from $1,000-3,000}. There are certain situation where the facts indicate that no prosecutable case can be brought {mattress-girl}; in many cases like this, sending in a kit would be a waste of limited law enforcement funds
Congress recently dealt with a stupid law in this regard, that mostly just told police departments to do, what they already do, but do it better. AND, it also mandated a lot of expensive boards, commissions, & etc.
MUCH BETTER, is simply to require all Rape-Kits be sent to a new FBI Lab that does nothing but handle those kits. This would actually ensure that all kits get tested, AND by streamlining & specializing; they should be able to massively reduce turnaround, and MASSIVELY cut to processing costs. {Under the current system, independent labs have every incentive to jack up the costs as high as they can get away with, under an FBI-Lab their goals would be quality, efficiency, & cost-effectiveness}
1
There is a gross undercurrent in our society.
From the Baltimore police department to Roger Ailes, from rapist Brock Turner being sentenced to 6 months for raping an unconscious woman because it would have a "severe impact" on the rapist to women being murdered while jogging, women are under assault.
I'm sick of it and I'm sick of men like Trump demeaning women as well.
We're over half the population, we don't get paid equally for equal work, we hold the majority of minimum wage jobs, yet don't get paid a living wage, we are told by men what we can and can't do with our bodies when we're the ones affected if we get pregnant.
I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more. Time for women to stand up and demand that we start being treated with dignity and respect.
From the Baltimore police department to Roger Ailes, from rapist Brock Turner being sentenced to 6 months for raping an unconscious woman because it would have a "severe impact" on the rapist to women being murdered while jogging, women are under assault.
I'm sick of it and I'm sick of men like Trump demeaning women as well.
We're over half the population, we don't get paid equally for equal work, we hold the majority of minimum wage jobs, yet don't get paid a living wage, we are told by men what we can and can't do with our bodies when we're the ones affected if we get pregnant.
I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more. Time for women to stand up and demand that we start being treated with dignity and respect.
595
Agreed!
25
Don't forget Bill Clinton in your list!
5
@V
Where is your outrage with how Bill Clinton treats women? With how John Edwards treats women? With how Hollywood treats women? Or how women are not safe in atheist conventions?
If women want to be treated with dignity and respect, they have to stop enabling liberals who abuse and exploit them. And women also have to stop lying and claim that republicans are the cause of their problems, when the Baltimore report clearly shows that democratic officials are responsible for the worst cases.
In the end, Hillary has been worse for women than Mitt Romney ever was!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/23/women-female-voters-us-e...
Where is your outrage with how Bill Clinton treats women? With how John Edwards treats women? With how Hollywood treats women? Or how women are not safe in atheist conventions?
If women want to be treated with dignity and respect, they have to stop enabling liberals who abuse and exploit them. And women also have to stop lying and claim that republicans are the cause of their problems, when the Baltimore report clearly shows that democratic officials are responsible for the worst cases.
In the end, Hillary has been worse for women than Mitt Romney ever was!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/23/women-female-voters-us-e...
3
Sadly, it's not just in Baltimore.
I know a woman who tried to report a man exposing himself through a car window while driving on the highway in my state (keep in mind that such a sight could've sent somebody off the road). She reported the plate number to the (female) dispatcher, who confirmed it fit the color, make, and model given. When she went in to report it to the police, the (male) officer at the station denied that the plate was correct, claimed it was something else, and dismissed the complaint entirely, as if she were just imagining it.
I've tried to report drunk drivers in my state and the police don't seem to care, even when I did manage to provide a plate number (though I always gave a location). I've gotten such bad reactions from them that I've stopped reporting them.
When I had lived in a nearby city, I pulled up to a stoplight and saw police officers get out of their patrol car and begin to kick a man's car. I had the thought of calling somebody to report it, but who exactly do you call when the police are the ones committing the crime?
On that same line of thought, recently, an officer in my area was charged with pulling women over and giving them a choice: sexual favors or high fines for driving-related crimes that they didn't commit.
My impression of police, after a lifetime of living in the U.S., has been that I often feel more bullied by them than protected. -- And I am of a class that receives less of this negative behavior than others...
I know a woman who tried to report a man exposing himself through a car window while driving on the highway in my state (keep in mind that such a sight could've sent somebody off the road). She reported the plate number to the (female) dispatcher, who confirmed it fit the color, make, and model given. When she went in to report it to the police, the (male) officer at the station denied that the plate was correct, claimed it was something else, and dismissed the complaint entirely, as if she were just imagining it.
I've tried to report drunk drivers in my state and the police don't seem to care, even when I did manage to provide a plate number (though I always gave a location). I've gotten such bad reactions from them that I've stopped reporting them.
When I had lived in a nearby city, I pulled up to a stoplight and saw police officers get out of their patrol car and begin to kick a man's car. I had the thought of calling somebody to report it, but who exactly do you call when the police are the ones committing the crime?
On that same line of thought, recently, an officer in my area was charged with pulling women over and giving them a choice: sexual favors or high fines for driving-related crimes that they didn't commit.
My impression of police, after a lifetime of living in the U.S., has been that I often feel more bullied by them than protected. -- And I am of a class that receives less of this negative behavior than others...
247
Worse yet, their enablers are the ones who reply "Well, if you know that - then just don't get pulled over"
Same with the crowd who blame the deaths of men at the hands of police by their "resisting".
Sick of it ALL.
Same with the crowd who blame the deaths of men at the hands of police by their "resisting".
Sick of it ALL.
19
Next time you see police kicking someone's car, start your phone video camera. That appears to be the only sure way to hold police accountable for their behavior, and even that isn't totally effective.
4
I tried to report a robbery at a NYC police station and the police officers suggested that "maybe the guy took my stuff by MISTAKE."
When I said that was ridiculous they became threatening and did not let me fill out a police report.
When I said that was ridiculous they became threatening and did not let me fill out a police report.
9
Finally! Some attention on this topic, thank you!!
83
It's difficult to know whether police bias towards women is related to inadequate training, or the individual personality of the officer. Battered women are rarely treated with respect--the police too often assume that the woman was "asking for it". Police behavior towards women is, in many cases, an abomination, and we've tolerated it too long.
Perhaps there is something deep in the male amygdala that makes especially policemen need to dominate women and distrust them. This. Needs. To. Change!
Perhaps there is something deep in the male amygdala that makes especially policemen need to dominate women and distrust them. This. Needs. To. Change!
67
Generally underlying bias that training doesn't root out - it can change, but alas it's likely not just police that feel that way, but many people, and it needs to change in the entire society. Ideally also starting with the police and law enforcement and judges, since they are the ones who are often at the forefront of change.
28
There have to be some psychological screening tests that would identify and disqualify police applicants with misogynist attitudes. Use them. Don't just hire any male who wants to wear a uniform and carry a gun. And fire the ones who are caught treating female victims of crimes disrespectfully. When a few are fired, the rest will clean up their acts.
139
Also, pay the good cops better. Cops are stressed out from having to work two jobs to make enough money to support a family,
5
Kimiko, I know a few police officers, street cops, not upper management, that make well over $100,000 per year, with overtime. How much would be enough? I don't make $100,000. I'm comfortable enough. Of course, nobody is shooting at me, or openly hates me either.....
1
Obama's Justice Department is exposing a problem that has been going on for decades. Why are we just hearing about it now? Hopefully, when Hillary is elected her Justice Department will expose the rampant sexism that exists in police departments and other public service departments across the country.
86
Is this report dated 2016, 1970, or 2060, or does it matter? The saddest part is the citizens of Baltimore have to pay the people who treat them this way.
78
early 60s, Rock Creek Park, a woman was raped. She had connections and the article about how she was treated as 'another one of those" by the police was in The Washngton Post.It was supposed to have been the beginning of sensitive ways of dealing with rape. We have certainly come a long way.
25
Fellow Americans of every gender, race, orientation,
If ever there was a revelation of facts to show how horrific the treatment of black people has been by those in power, there should be no doubt lasting now after this. Black people, especially men, have often given their lives, freedom and sanity for America. Yes, even their sanity, as the pervasive effect on a person in a cage from which they cannot escape as the world goes on like they do not matter, indeed, do not exist. It is maddening.
The damages have been done, are being done and some will continue until there are justices on SCOTUS that begin to understand how horrific it has been as it happened out in the open for all who would open their eyes to see. The statement that justice is blind holds and, as Richard Pryor said, "She is white too."
The legacy of Barack Obama will also contain that he started the ball to rolling at revealing the true brutality done to blacks. The legacy of Clarence Thomas will be worse than that of Antonin Scalia, no more potent a Judas ever existed. But the real heroes are all those people out there with those ever rolling cameras and the officials who finally prevailed in getting cameras on officers and in squad cars. A personal bit of thanks go to the free-lance reporter who exposed the LaQuan McDonald scandal in Chicago who really kicked the who can over, Mr. Brandon Smith, a true freedom patriarch. Who fought for release of videos when the big organizations would not.
World Peace
If ever there was a revelation of facts to show how horrific the treatment of black people has been by those in power, there should be no doubt lasting now after this. Black people, especially men, have often given their lives, freedom and sanity for America. Yes, even their sanity, as the pervasive effect on a person in a cage from which they cannot escape as the world goes on like they do not matter, indeed, do not exist. It is maddening.
The damages have been done, are being done and some will continue until there are justices on SCOTUS that begin to understand how horrific it has been as it happened out in the open for all who would open their eyes to see. The statement that justice is blind holds and, as Richard Pryor said, "She is white too."
The legacy of Barack Obama will also contain that he started the ball to rolling at revealing the true brutality done to blacks. The legacy of Clarence Thomas will be worse than that of Antonin Scalia, no more potent a Judas ever existed. But the real heroes are all those people out there with those ever rolling cameras and the officials who finally prevailed in getting cameras on officers and in squad cars. A personal bit of thanks go to the free-lance reporter who exposed the LaQuan McDonald scandal in Chicago who really kicked the who can over, Mr. Brandon Smith, a true freedom patriarch. Who fought for release of videos when the big organizations would not.
World Peace
40
"Black people, especially men"
Either you didn't read the article or you simply don't care about half the world's population.
Either you didn't read the article or you simply don't care about half the world's population.
2
Every woman deserves dignity, respect and understanding during their most vulnerable moments in life regardless of their race, economic background or sexual orientation. It is about time an investigation was conducted on their treatment as they attempt to get justice through the system. They have suffered through the rape and are also dealing with the downright unthinkable actions of the officers and prosecutors. How can any rape survivor get justice when those sworn to protect and indict are too busy further degrading/ignoring these women than actually doing their taxpayer funded jobs. Some women are raped and discriminated by the police who appear to have never been investigated. No one should ever wonder why many rapes go unreported in their city or town. These neanderthals exist in every courthouse and precinct across this country.
The rape itself is extremely difficult to overcome and the long term effects last a lifetime. Survivors often lose economic stability, suffer severe mental anguish and trusting relationships are almost impossible. Suicide and drug abuse are very common because the pain and misery are daily challenges which tax the soul.
Only time will tell if this report forces the judicial system to change the way they approach these women. I hope we don't have to wait too long.
The rape itself is extremely difficult to overcome and the long term effects last a lifetime. Survivors often lose economic stability, suffer severe mental anguish and trusting relationships are almost impossible. Suicide and drug abuse are very common because the pain and misery are daily challenges which tax the soul.
Only time will tell if this report forces the judicial system to change the way they approach these women. I hope we don't have to wait too long.
63
And, in an apparent conspiracy against future rape victims, our misogynistic TV and newspapers refuse to give a physical description of the rapist - even as they implore the public to give TIPS to the police.
2
Really? They give descriptions of uncaught rapists in the media where I live.
I'm surprised that you're surprised.
Read (or reread) David Simon's and Ed Burns' books about East and West Baltimore (a tale of two cities if ever there was one), "The Corner" and "Homicide, A Year on the Killing Streets", or rent movies by the same names, or watch HBO's multipart mult-season crime drama "The Wire", a distillation and expansion of both.
Simon and Burns followed the first rule behind great, enduring art: "write about what you know". The genre is often described as "non-fiction fiction" (or "faction"). But if you took Simon's and Burns' work at face value you came away with a basic understanding of everything that needs to be understood about the incompetent, despicable, corrupt, inept, racist Baltimore PD and the bottomless pit and wasteland that is "Baltimore" itself.
Read (or reread) David Simon's and Ed Burns' books about East and West Baltimore (a tale of two cities if ever there was one), "The Corner" and "Homicide, A Year on the Killing Streets", or rent movies by the same names, or watch HBO's multipart mult-season crime drama "The Wire", a distillation and expansion of both.
Simon and Burns followed the first rule behind great, enduring art: "write about what you know". The genre is often described as "non-fiction fiction" (or "faction"). But if you took Simon's and Burns' work at face value you came away with a basic understanding of everything that needs to be understood about the incompetent, despicable, corrupt, inept, racist Baltimore PD and the bottomless pit and wasteland that is "Baltimore" itself.
37
While I follow your logic, you might want to consider where you're writing from... Chicago is far from Utopia!
I might "consider where I'm writing from"?
"Consider" how?
You mean self-censor? You mean, only certain people are allowed to write about what they know, depending on where they live?
I lived near Rockville for several years so I know "Bawl-mer". It, Chicago, Cleveland, OH, Camden, NJ -- and Rio, Caracas, Davao and Manilla, for that matter -- have many similarities and share many traits. One thing Chicago doesn't have is a fine reportorial team as Simon and Burns were back in their heyday, supported to the hilt by the Baltimore Sun, whose editors were willing to defy city and state politicians who didn't want to read Simons' stories. Our major newspapers were little more than lapdogs. Publishers and city editors took instructions from the Daley Machine that wrecked Chicago. Although The Machine doesn't hold sway like it once did they are mere shadows of what they once were; bland, toothless, pathetic relics, actually.
Otherwise, our problems are virtually identical. Our West Bawl'mer is Southside "below 3500", and ancient suburbs with names like "Cicero", "Little Village", "Garfield Park" and "Harvey". Drugs are plentiful, guns and life are cheap, gangs hold sway, the code is silence and revenge, and police sometimes play judge, jury and executioner -- or exact "tribute" from local residents unfortunate enough to cross their path, just like they do in "Bawl'mer".
"Consider" how?
You mean self-censor? You mean, only certain people are allowed to write about what they know, depending on where they live?
I lived near Rockville for several years so I know "Bawl-mer". It, Chicago, Cleveland, OH, Camden, NJ -- and Rio, Caracas, Davao and Manilla, for that matter -- have many similarities and share many traits. One thing Chicago doesn't have is a fine reportorial team as Simon and Burns were back in their heyday, supported to the hilt by the Baltimore Sun, whose editors were willing to defy city and state politicians who didn't want to read Simons' stories. Our major newspapers were little more than lapdogs. Publishers and city editors took instructions from the Daley Machine that wrecked Chicago. Although The Machine doesn't hold sway like it once did they are mere shadows of what they once were; bland, toothless, pathetic relics, actually.
Otherwise, our problems are virtually identical. Our West Bawl'mer is Southside "below 3500", and ancient suburbs with names like "Cicero", "Little Village", "Garfield Park" and "Harvey". Drugs are plentiful, guns and life are cheap, gangs hold sway, the code is silence and revenge, and police sometimes play judge, jury and executioner -- or exact "tribute" from local residents unfortunate enough to cross their path, just like they do in "Bawl'mer".
6
The program is always the same with the same results. When egregious conduct by the police is beyond the ability of politicians to suppress coverage of it then the Justice Dept. is called in. They document what we already knew generally and add lots of specifics that we didn't. A federal judge will then act as a monitor to determine if agreed-upon reforms are actually instituted.
Except, nothing really changes when racism is institutionalized to the point where it's not just learned but handed down to the next generation of police officers. It's a bandaid to the those communities suffering from that racism when they know only major surgery will help.
Perhaps the Justice Dept. will remember the second word in its name and think about justice. We keep hearing about the need for a *national* conversation on racial bias in police departments, but when is the Justice Dept. going to put its money where its mouth is? Same old, same old doesn't cut it and nor does merely inserting a federal judge, no matter how honest, into a battle that can't be won by a jurist alone.
Except, nothing really changes when racism is institutionalized to the point where it's not just learned but handed down to the next generation of police officers. It's a bandaid to the those communities suffering from that racism when they know only major surgery will help.
Perhaps the Justice Dept. will remember the second word in its name and think about justice. We keep hearing about the need for a *national* conversation on racial bias in police departments, but when is the Justice Dept. going to put its money where its mouth is? Same old, same old doesn't cut it and nor does merely inserting a federal judge, no matter how honest, into a battle that can't be won by a jurist alone.
34
True.
Oakland has been going through the same thing except for the DOJ involvement, the new-ish mayor (to her credit) has canned three Chiefs in a matter of months (one was in office 5 days) as they try to promote from within and keep finding that it's the "within" that is the problem.
Even the from-outside hires fail immediately.
Now we're seeing the same rot across the Bay in SF, with numerous cops twittering/emailing (on Company systems) racist and misogynistic things about those they supposedly "Protect and Serve".
Oakland has been going through the same thing except for the DOJ involvement, the new-ish mayor (to her credit) has canned three Chiefs in a matter of months (one was in office 5 days) as they try to promote from within and keep finding that it's the "within" that is the problem.
Even the from-outside hires fail immediately.
Now we're seeing the same rot across the Bay in SF, with numerous cops twittering/emailing (on Company systems) racist and misogynistic things about those they supposedly "Protect and Serve".
8
What is wrong with these people who are paid to protect the public? I mean seriously? What is it? This is their job. Does that kind of employment simply attract white men out to humiliate and ignore others not like them?
206
The problem is, they aren't paid enough. Most cops have to hold down second jobs in order to make a decent living, so they're tired and stressed when they're wearing a uniform. Eventually the good cops leave the force to find something that pays better, has regular work hours, and allows them a family life. What's left are the sadists who love police work because they get to carry guns and beat up and harass the people they're sworn to serve and protect.
2
In case you haven't noticed the police aren't paid to protect the public. That's the PR part, just as the speechifying and campaigning of politicians is the PR part of their job. Job 1 is making sure The Man keeps a hold on power. The police are paid to break up labor unions, stop civil unrest, intimidate the population, and collect lots of money for the corrupt politicians running the state.
Yes, they are necessary in modern society, in which the normal bonds between people no longer exist. But protecting the public is a small, incidental part of their function.
Yes, they are necessary in modern society, in which the normal bonds between people no longer exist. But protecting the public is a small, incidental part of their function.
2
Unfortutnately, it isn't just white male police who treat women badly. In law enforcement, the Blue Brotherhood trumps all other loyalties.
7
"Systemic" means the tree is infected, right? It's not just a "few bad apples"...
126
Women are half of every group that has ever been written about. I can't wait until men understand this.
99
I hope you're sitting down, because you'll be waiting a long time.
13
There is a difference in the way that male brains process empathy, versus the way a female brain does: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1508174/Men-hungrier-for-revenge-...
Men in this study felt less empathy when they felt that someone's pain was justified. So, if they saw somebody dressing provocatively, being transgender, and/or being a prostitute and viewed that as wrong, they would literally feel less empathy for them if they are a victim of crime. This isn't to say that all men are like this, but the general tendency was studied through this research.
It's just common sense that such people should not ever be working with victims of crime. Since this quality can be detected, potential officers should be tested and weeded out. I mean, how can we ever expect somebody to uphold the law and treat people with proper respect when they can feel that somebody's suffering (even if they are a victim) is justified enough to not feel empathy for them? That just doesn't seem like somebody I'd want policing my area, pulling my family members over, or responding to a call I made. Not in a million years.
Men in this study felt less empathy when they felt that someone's pain was justified. So, if they saw somebody dressing provocatively, being transgender, and/or being a prostitute and viewed that as wrong, they would literally feel less empathy for them if they are a victim of crime. This isn't to say that all men are like this, but the general tendency was studied through this research.
It's just common sense that such people should not ever be working with victims of crime. Since this quality can be detected, potential officers should be tested and weeded out. I mean, how can we ever expect somebody to uphold the law and treat people with proper respect when they can feel that somebody's suffering (even if they are a victim) is justified enough to not feel empathy for them? That just doesn't seem like somebody I'd want policing my area, pulling my family members over, or responding to a call I made. Not in a million years.
33
Yes, I understand. Good grief why do you assume I need to be schooled?
My point is that women are always half. It's a problem that doesn't always have a remedy, but always should. Jesus Christ.
My point is that women are always half. It's a problem that doesn't always have a remedy, but always should. Jesus Christ.
4
“'The challenge of interacting respectfully with victims of sexual assault is a challenge to our profession,' Commissioner Davis said."
Am I the only one who finds it abhorrent and absolutely unacceptable that police officers as a profession think it is a "challenge" to treat sexual assault victims respectfully? Respect for women, people of color and crime victims should be the bare minimum standard for the people we trust to police our communities, and if the majority of police find it challenging, then the whole policing system is broken beyond repair and needs to be abolished and rebuilt.
Am I the only one who finds it abhorrent and absolutely unacceptable that police officers as a profession think it is a "challenge" to treat sexual assault victims respectfully? Respect for women, people of color and crime victims should be the bare minimum standard for the people we trust to police our communities, and if the majority of police find it challenging, then the whole policing system is broken beyond repair and needs to be abolished and rebuilt.
349
I wonder if it would be so difficult for this commissioner to treat his daughter or wife with respect if she were the victim of rape.
106
Exactly. So he's saying that the police don't respect American citizens, the people they're sworn to protect, and yet we're supposed to respect the police?
On a side note, if we call on "moderate Muslims" to denounce violence every time there's an ISIS-related attack, how about getting all the "moderate cops" to denounce racism every time one of them kills some poor black kid?
On a side note, if we call on "moderate Muslims" to denounce violence every time there's an ISIS-related attack, how about getting all the "moderate cops" to denounce racism every time one of them kills some poor black kid?
35
Excellent point well made, Ken, thank you. Indeed, the only way for police to regain trust and respect from the people is for them to stop standing in solidarity with bad cops and start standing in solidarity with the people they are sworn and paid to protect. Of course, that would take some good cops. We're waiting.
9
Thanks for highlighting this part of the Justice Department report.
Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me. I have known a number of police officers and they all seemed to take it for granted that women, particularly poor women and sex workers, would be sexually abused by officers. And this is in San Francisco! I can only imagine how much worse it would be in a place like Baltimore...
I have also known women who reported sexual assault and were disrespected by the police. We still live in a sexist culture. We have not yet overcome racism and sexism, despite all the progress that has been made. We still have a long way to go...
I hope that when Hillary Clinton is President, we can make more progress...
Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me. I have known a number of police officers and they all seemed to take it for granted that women, particularly poor women and sex workers, would be sexually abused by officers. And this is in San Francisco! I can only imagine how much worse it would be in a place like Baltimore...
I have also known women who reported sexual assault and were disrespected by the police. We still live in a sexist culture. We have not yet overcome racism and sexism, despite all the progress that has been made. We still have a long way to go...
I hope that when Hillary Clinton is President, we can make more progress...
175
Sadly, I think it is more likely we will see a backlash like we saw after electing our first African American president.
81
Sadly, I agree.
And why do you suppose San Francisco to be any better than Baltimore?
1
In one email exchange, a prosecutor referred to a woman who had reported a sexual assault as a “conniving little whore.” A police officer, using a common text-message expression for laughing heartily, wrote back: “Lmao! I feel the same.”
This makes me sick to my stomach. Please tell me that both the prosecutor and the police officer were fired.
This makes me sick to my stomach. Please tell me that both the prosecutor and the police officer were fired.
303
It's entirely possible the lady who reported it had made a clearly false accusation. It's also possible the officers were in fact being dismissive without cause. The problem is these reports completely lack context. Clickbait legalese, as it were. Notice also how the gender of the person accused of saying thelse comments are not identified (DoJ never think it's relevant). But it is, as women can also say nasty things and black cops also beat up/kill black suspects (quicker to pull trigger even). But reading these reports you'd get the subtle impression its just a male/white, mysogyny/racist issue.
7
And what if she was? If he (or she?) had said she was known as an attention seeking and manipulative young woman with numerous boyfriends and a history of lying and seeking revenge? Would it then become a question of language? While I don't condone the language used, these are the people closest to the situation, the ones who deal with it daily - not people like us who sit around get sick to their stomach and write clever little comments in the NY Times when the world isn't perfect. We know nothing about this case other than the credibility of the accuser is in question and described in crude terms.
2
If you had to bet, Do you really think they'd be fired? At most, a reprimand so they can go on getting retirement points and health benefits. Sorry to be cynical.
4
Time to disband the police force and get some new trained officers and a new chief.
69
The current chief was hired after the 2015 riot and got off to a good start, starting to make improvements right away. He is part of the solution, not the problem.
4
It's not as easy as retraining . Cops are a mixed bag, with some excellent people yet some bullies who go badge heavy. The issue goes deep to character.
2
When does 'grossly inadequate' become 'grossly unprofessional', 'grossly immoral', 'grossly unethical', and/or, 'grossly criminal'?
282
Apparently never
14
It's not criminal to be disrespectful to a transgender person, as the story quote implies, even if that is the ultimate goal of the movement (see NYC regs where you can be fined thousands for using wrong pronouns).
2
Transgender people are the most harassed, most misunderstood, and most discriminated against minority, I don't even want to think about what it would be like if I was Black.
The worst part is if the cop does decide to arrest you, Trans people always get put in with the wrong gender. Imagine if a cis-woman was thrown in with 100s of men...but that actually does happen in reality with Transgender women like me.