Appalling: 17-year-old Rape Victim Harassed and Belittled by Florida Deputy

[Arcanetrance]

Based on the report released by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office, the 25-year-veteran was reported saying “horrendous” things to the victim, telling her “I own you” and “I control you destiny” in regards to the case’s progress.

Additionally, the victim stated that Martin asked inappropriate questions like whether the suspect “put it in [her] butt” and whether it hurt or not, despite the fact that, by Martin’s own admission, there had been no indication of anal rape. At one point, the officer implies that the situation was more akin to prostitution than it was rape, stating that the whole situation “sounds like [his] ex-wife.”

That's pretty fucked up I think rape investigations should all be conducted jointly with independent counselors watching over the victims when dealing with the cops.

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/appalling-17-year-old-rape-victim-harassed-and-belittled-florida-deputy

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

1. Agreed!

All rape victims should have an advocate with them when being questioned

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. Absolutely.

And not another police officer.

[HappyMe]

9. Aren't there specially trained female officers for this?

Or even specially trained male officers if there aren't any females in that precinct?

There should be an advocate there also for all victims, but particularly for any female under 21.

[Sheldon Cooper]

22. She HAD an advocate, from Child Protective Services.

Read this report, please. Your mind will be blown at what this asshole did, and also by the fact that he did it in front of the advocate.

http://www.wtsp.com/assetpool/documents/131104011838_2013-11-04%282%29.pdf

[ismnotwasm]

2. God that's disgusting

That poor girl.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. Can I say this?

When it comes to sex, some men are really messed up.

This kind of behavior should never happen. Ever. Police officers should be screened for this kind of stuff and just let go immediately if their behavior is this inappropriate. His co-workers have to know what he is like. They have to have been covering up for him for years. Or his superiors just don't give a shit or think this kind of stuff is funny.

It's not just women that run into this kind of abuse. There was an article just this week about a man who was pulled over for a routine traffic stop. The officers just brutally raped him claiming to be looking for drugs. Big suit on that one.

[Arcanetrance]

5. I completely agree this shit needs to be screened out and weeded out zero tolerance period

[stevenleser]

6. The jerk was fired. And it is a well deserved firing and end to 25 year career.

“I’m not going to tolerate it, I’m not going to have it,” said Sheriff Bob Gualtieri during a press conference addressing the incident. “He engaged in really what was horrendous conduct.”

This doesn’t mark the first time that (now-former) Deputy Martin found himself in hot water. Early this year, in July of 2013, it was revealed that Martin was under investigation by Internal Affairs for allegations of domestic violence, sex on the job, and associating with known drug dealers.

Martin told investigators that he was “indifferent to the victim’s feelings,” when interviewing her after the assault. After a previous disciplinary action—handed down after Martin reportedly handcuffed his ex-wife and physically assaulted her after he spotted her car at another man’s house—Martin’s tenure as Deputy was ended swiftly, bringing a long, sordid career to a halt.

[Arcanetrance]

7. It bugs me he lasted 25 years I wonder how many other incidents happened no one knows about

[Blue_Tires]

15. +1

He probably has a career like Richard Gere in "Internal Affairs"

[freshwest]

8. Thanks for that closure. It took too long, but it happened. Good on the chief for firing him.

Although I'm sure the tax payers will continue to fund this guy's lifestyle and he'll vote for people with his same disgusting views.

[HappyMe]

10. Good for the chief.

I don't know how the guy lasted that long in the job.

[bullwinkle428]

13. JESUS - he chained up his ex-wife and raped her? He should

spend the rest of his life rotting in prison for that alone.

[stevenleser]

14. I'm not sure but I think he 'just' hit her. It says physical assault not sexual assault.

Still, a police officer who exhibits any kind of aggressive behavior like that should have his gun taken away and be assigned to purely administrative duties, if not fired altogether.

[seabeyond]

19. and then tells the girl she "sounds like his ex wife". ya. it would be too victims

being abused. bet she did sound like the x wife.

such hate toward women

[AnotherMcIntosh]

20. He'll be picked up by another police department, if he hasn't been already.

They know how to take care of their own.

[csziggy]

23. The sheriff is pretty new in that position

"Sheriff Bob Gualtieri was appointed Pinellas County Sheriff by the Governor in November 2011 and elected to his first full term as Pinellas County Sheriff in November of 2012."

And has an impressive resume: http://www.pcsoweb.com/sheriff-gualtieri-bio/

I wonder how much more house cleaning he will have to do?

[leftyladyfrommo]

24. He needs to be arrested for assault. n/t

[gollygee]

11. Thank goodness he was fired

I wonder how many rape victims he acted like that with before he got caught.

And I wonder what else he did and who else he hurt. It seems like the most sexist people are often also very racist, and he was in a position to do harm to people of color as well.

25 years at this job. I don't believe for a minute he just started acting like this recently.

[Arcanetrance]

12. You summed up my exact thoughts when I read this

You don't just start acting this way out of the blue. This had to have been going on for 25 years maybe he did smaller things and grew more bold over time who knows.

[Blue_Tires]

16. The REAL question of course is

which higher-ups had been protecting him all these years, and why?

and how many others in this department are just like him?

[gollygee]

17. Very good point

This kind of thing doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's likely there's a culture in that department enabling and even encouraging this kind of behavior.

[lpbk2713]

18. There will be an Internal Affairs investigation.

Riiight.

And that always translates to ... "How many coats of white wash do we put on this?"

[Sheldon Cooper]

21. Here is the investigative report. Well worth the read.

http://www.wtsp.com/assetpool/documents/131104011838_2013-11-04%282%29.pdf