An essay from Luciole friend/contributor Christine McClintock: "Child Abuse - The Fight to Protect"
Posted by kluciole at 5/11/2010 12:34 PM 
Categories: Human Rights, National, Friends, Hope, Luciole Press, news, Justice
Categories: Human Rights, National, Friends, Hope, Luciole Press, news, Justice
Child Abuse - The Fight to Protect
Tonight I was at a friends house for dinner. We were enjoying conversation afterwards when we heard a loud smacking sound. Once, twice, then a child scream. The sounds grew louder and we could not make out the altercation but knew someone was in trouble. So we got up from the couch and went outside to investigate the origin of the sounds.
My eyes were struck as I witnesses a women raising a belt over her head and crashing it down repeatedly on a small little girl, maybe 7 or 8. I was shocked, sickened and angry. I picked up the phone and called the police. The hardest part was waiting for the officer to arrive while watching the beating continue. This woman was clearly out of control. She left the room and then returned to beat the child again. A young woman step out from behind a car and announced she had seen the sickening incident as well. She was just as horrified.
Officer "Newbie" I will call him, because he was baby faced and clearly not going to go up without back-up. Turned to call for another officer. In these days of cutbacks putting officers out on the street sometimes means putting them alone. So we waited. Time ticked by like a slow school clock at the end of the day. Finally, Officer "Ready" showed up. This wasn't looking good. I have taught at Law Enforcement Academies and these two looked like they had just graduated.
So they finally went up. By this time the two adults in the apartment had noticed that people outside had witnessed their situation. They started to put the panels back up on the blinds. This was clearly not a good sign. They turned the lights out. We stepped to the side as they waited and watched.
Finally a knock on the door came on their residence. Officers "Newbie" and "Ready" stood up and could be seen talking to the couple now being questioned. They returned in a few minutes, and by that I mean a real few minutes and said clearly it was just " a case of a parent disciplining a child."
Really?
I thought I had just fallen in a black hole." What?" I said. I told them, "I know an assault when I see one." They told me if I see it again to call them. "Wait, there is not going to be another time," I responded. I asked them to call in for their Lt.
Yes boyz, I am a Victim Advocate and I know that I have the right to appeal to your superior. It was amazing to see the response or lack of response to what clearly was an assault on a child.
"Well we could only see red marks, not broken skin." one of them said in defense. Looking at him in the face I told him, " he could stay around for the bruises to show up tomorrow".... I was angry. Finally Lt. "Bigpants" showed up. He talked to his officers. Then the three of them went up to the residenced and had a little bit longer conversation.
They returned to interview me, my friend and the neighbor who also witnessed the beating. He argued semantics with me. Fine, I told him I have the incident report number. I will be making a call and be giving a statement to The Department of Human Services tomorrow.
Hmmm, change of plans. I knew that was coming. Oh, they would be filing a report, not just issuing an incident number.
Good.
Then he proceeded to use an ole scare police tactic. He told me my name was going to be on the report. I really had to hold that laugh back. I knew exactly what was going on. So I said, "fine. I expect that." I added, "I don't impeach very well on the stand. Let me spell my name for you"
I took more information than his officers did at the scene. I was writing as we talked. I had names and badge numbers, license plate numbers and witness identified. Gentlemen, I thought, I am not going to tell you who you are dealing with. I going to show you.
Because a child was severely beaten by an adult who was out of control tonight, and you are gong to do your job. Why? I told the officer.....
"Because I am a Victim Advocate and we protect our Victims."
By the way Officer Newbie had to call back to get my date of birth, because not only did he not get my phone number down correctly, he didn't take down my identification.
***The names of the officers are being withheld for their protection. Also the nicknames I gave them are a way of coping. Believe me...they have names for us too.***
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
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