A Cry for Justice: Exposing the Epidemic of Law Enforcement Brutality Against American Women
In a 2018 headline by Bowling Green State University, the stark truth emerges: “Police officers in the US were charged with more than 400 rapes over a 9-yeard period.” This revelation compels us to confront a disturbing reality, prompting thoughtful consideration of how law enforcement abuses their authority, particularly in mistreating women across the nation’s states, and why its imperative for the United States to ratify the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Alaska
In Anchorage, a former police officer was charged with sexual assault. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced they charged the 53-year-old police officer with more than 200 new counts stemming from alleged crimes from 2005 to 2017.
Arizona
In 2011, a woman accused Phoenix police officer Anthony Armour of unjustly pulling her over and interrogating her alone in an alley at 2:30 am. Subsequently, in 2012, an investigation into Armour was initiated, involving a complaint suggesting he had “engaged in sexual activity” with a woman he was investigating for drug offenses. Despite these incidents, Phoenix police reports claimed no violations, and no actions were taken. However, in 2015, Armour faced accusations of pushing a woman to the ground during an arrest. Notably, in the same year, Armour sexually assaulted JeAnna Anderson during a traffic stop.
Given that authorities failed to disclose Armour’s history of dishonesty to a woman who spent two years behind bars because of his misconduct, she was released.
The Guardian reported that in 2018, during a drug investigation, Phoenix police detained Erica Reynolds. Despite finding no evidence in her car, they transported her to a police station. Once there, officers subjected her to a strip search, including searches of her intimidate areas, revealing no drugs. The article determined the invasive search was conducted without a warrant, which violated the city’s search violated policy. The policy explicitly mandates that such searches require a warrant approved by a judge and must be performed by a medical professional.
Illinois
During the summer of this year, allegations surfaced that more than one Chicago officer assigned to a North Lawndale police station had sexual contact with at least one of the migrants forced to sleep on the floor of the station.
Kansas
This month, five Black women filed a federal lawsuit against the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department , accusing several officers of engaging in unethical, violent, and abusive behavior.
Further, in 2018, mere weeks into a police officer’s tenure, a patrol officer committed acts of sexual misconduct while serving on the force.
Nevada
In 2015, Maleatra Montanez called local law enforcement to report her missing daughter. When Chester Thompson arrived several hours later, he immediately began making unwarranted sexual advances towards Montanez, including inappropriate comments about her body and eventually engaging in sexual misconduct,
North Carolina
Earlier this year, a former Greensboro police officer was charged with sexual assault and indecent liberties with a minor.
Pennsylvania
Similarly, a former Philadelphia Police homicide detective faced charges, including rape, where he used his role as a homicide detective to target his victims. Allegations also surfaced that the police detective assaulted suspects on and off Police Department property, which stretched back more than a decade before he was fired in 2017.
Two months ago, a police officer was sentenced after he pled guilty to acts contrary to the rights of the child. Investigators later uncovered dozens of photos and videos showing the officer’s predatory behavior spanned years and included dozens of young women and girls — often targeting victims who had run away, been arrested, or struggled with addiction.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, a woman lodged a complaint alleging that a police officer, in an attempt to circumvent a potential driving under the influence charge, transported her to an abandoned area to “sober up.” Shockingly, he subsequently took her to a secluded spot at Travelers Rest High School and proceeded to commit a sexual assault. Disturbingly, reports indicate that this same officer had previously been employed at the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, from which he was terminated in August 2021 due to a violation involving excessive use of force. Documentation from the CJA reveals an incident in which he “grabbed the neck of an arrested individual, handcuffed behind his back, with an open hand obstructing the individual’s airflow.”
In 2019, a police officer was charged with second-degree sexual misconduct after he engaged in acts contrary to the rights of a minor at his home and threatening to use a taser if they didn’t comply with his advances. However, a year later, the teen filed a civil lawsuit accusing the City of Travelers Rest and the police department of gross negligence for failing to supervise the officer and allowing him to take his taser home without proper training. Although the lawsuit was settled in January 2022, criminal charges against the officer were dismissed in last year based on “prosecutorial discretion.”
Texas
In Texas, dashcam video showed police sexually assaulting Charnesia Corley. Initially, the police arrested and charged Corley with possession of 0.02 ounces of marijuana and resisting arrest. Nonetheless, when the incident gained widespread attention, the Harris County district attorney’s office opted to drop the charges.
West Virginia
Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, on the behalf of sixty-seven other women — including minors who participated in a junior program at the academy — who have made similar allegations. At least seven women have filed notices of intent to sue the agency over allegations a hidden camera was used in the female locker room of the West Virginia State Police Academy.
According to researchers, about half of the victims abuse by American law enforcement are children.
In another disturbing incident, a former officer of the Portsmouth Police Department infringed upon the bodily autonomy of a 17-year-old high school student. The ex-police officer used intimidation tactics by threatening to issue citations for “numerous minor offenses,” manipulating the teenager into engaging in actions that contravene the rights of a minor. Despite the young individual expressing objections, she reluctantly complied due to a sense of fear and the belief that she had no viable alternatives.
What the Research Says
A study from Bowling Green State University found that women reported being raped by police officers in the US over 500 times times between 2005 and 2015. Additionally, there were over 500 instances of forcible fondling. Experts further argue that police departments do not consistently maintain data on women who report incidents of sexual assault involving a police officer.
Why Do These Crimes Go Unreported?
When women fall victim to sexual assault by law enforcement officers, the daunting requirement to report such incidents directly to the same law enforcement body creates a formidable challenge. This inherent dynamic instills profound fear, frequently dissuading victims from coming forward and reporting the crime.
“Police sexual misconduct and cases of police sexual violence are often referred to as hidden offenses, and studies on police sexual misconduct are usually based on small samples or derived from officer surveys that are threatened by a reluctance to reveal these cases.”
Philip Matthew Stinson, Sr., J.D, Ph.D., John Liederbach, Ph.D., Steven P. Lab, Ph.D., Steven L. Brewer, Jr., Ph.D (see p. 35)
Indeed, Johnathan Blanks at the Cato Institute of Criminal Justice stated, “The system is designed to shield police officers from external accountability.” He went on to emphasize that “the most problematic officers receive the highest level of protection.”
It is worth mentioning here that researchers found that a predominance of the victims fall into at least one of several categories: They have criminal records, are homeless, are sex workers or have issues. Essentially, predatory cops are “picking on people who juries won’t believe or who don’t trust police,” said Dr. Phillip Stinson.
The absence of ratification by the United States for the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women signals a deficiency in the commitment to safeguarding the rights of women.
I believe the absence of ratification by the United States for the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) signals a deficiency in the commitment to safeguarding the rights of women. Building on the Resolution Adopted by the General Assembly, I must call on the United States to:
- Ensure that the applicable provisions of laws, codes and procedures related to violence against women by law enforcement officers are consistently enforced in such a way that all criminal acts of violence against women are recognized and responded to accordingly by the criminal justice system;
- Develop independent investigative techniques that do not degrade women subjected to violence by law enforcement officers;
- Ensure that police procedures, including decisions on the arrest, detention and terms of any form of release, take into account the need for the safety of the victim and others related through family, socially or otherwise, and that these procedures also prevent further acts of violence by law enforcement officers;
- Empower human rights organisations to respond promptly to incidents of violence against women by law enforcement officers;
- Ensure the exercise of police powers is undertaken according to the rule of law and codes of conduct and that the police may be held accountable for any infringement thereof.
This disturbing reality forces us to confront the gravity of the situation and underscores the critical need for careful contemplation and action on part of the United States.
