Raped on duty - Constable sexually assaulted by her colleague searches for justice

published: Tuesday | September 16, 2008

Mark Titus, Enterprise Reporter


A woman constable who was allegedly raped by another cop is facing an uncertain future, as she has had to be dealing with the ordeal, all by herself.

Some of her colleagues are advising her not to take any action against the culprit and are doing everything in their power to slow the process. She is, however, adamant that the accused must be brought to justice.

"To sweep this under the carpet would be a complete injustice not only to me, but to other women police who have to be dealing with this kind of thing on a daily basis," she said. "I could not live with myself if I was to keep my mouth shut."

Completely isolated

"But since making an official report, I have been completely isolated. I am now the villain," she laments. "It's like I have done something wrong. No one remembers that this man violated me."

It was about nine years ago that a friend who was also a police officer encouraged her to join the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). From her first visit to the recruitment centre, she got a preview of what she would be up against. The recruiting officer summoned her to inform her that he could make the process easier for her. But this would be in exchange for sexual favours. She refused. Despite excelling in the recruitment exercises, she was not called until two and a half years later.

Pressure

It was then that she first heard stories of the pressure on females at the training academy. Said the victim: "A lot of female cops told of the pressure that female student constables had to go through, but I always had my stance that if I came under any pressure and the situation was overwhelming, I would take up my little suitcase and leave."

It was clear from day one that there should not have been any form of intimate interaction - be it recruit and recruit or instructor and recruit - you were warned that once you were in breach, you would be sent home - but that never really happened as some of those who lay down the rules themselves break the rules."

The pressure was more than she could imagine. On more than one occasion she wanted to quit, but was encouraged to 'dig in and maintain her standard'.

According to her, at training school, if anyone dared to report the involvement of an instructor in sexual wrongdoings, the informant's squad would eventually be punished. "Other instructors would fight for the right to teach you a lesson; it is just a part of the esprit de corp code," she said.

The woman was, however, quick to point out that there were very good instructors at the Twickenham Park, St Catherine-based, police training school. "There were a few res-pectable officers who stood by the principles of the force, but they were outnumbered by those who were willing to abuse their authority."

The jokes

She successfully completed her eight-month training programme, but her "hard-to-get" stance made her an even bigger target for many of her male counterparts. Some jokingly told her that they were going to rape her. "At first I never took their threats seriously as some of them were senior policemen; but a friend of mine, who was an ex-police, advised me not to take their utterances lightly ... but I did not listen; I thought he was just saying so because of his personal issues with the JCF."

On the eve of Tropical Storm Gustav, the woman cop said that she was on 'grave yard' patrol duty with two male detectives; the driver was one of those who had jokingly threatened to rape her; she was seated in the passenger front seat of the police unit, while the other man was seated in the rear.

During their second beat, about 3 a.m., the men were engaged in a sexually-oriented conversation, while daring her to indulge in some of the suggested acts that they were talking about. On reaching a makeshift airstrip, suspected of being used for drug trafficking, they turned on to the premises.

On entering the property, the driver parked the vehicle under a tree while the other cop came out, informing them he was going to look around. Finding it a bit strange that he would want to go alone, she offered to accompany him, but he told her that he 'had everything covered'; the driver reclined his seat as if going to rest.

Surprised

The driver then stepped out of the car and came around to her door, and suggested that she recline her seat and relax until the other cop returned. She refused. He then forcefully reclined the seat.

"I was caught by surprise. Suddenly, he was over me and I had my knee in his chest. I told him to stop or I would report it, but he ignored my pleas, telling me that 'me a gwaan like mi a virgin, like mi nuh want give him some.' I had no strength to fight him, he was big and strong."

Disregarding any sense of reasoning, he remained on top of her, thrusting violently, until he satisfied himself. He then got up and walked away. "It was a nightmare," she said.

The three drove back to the station without another word being exchanged. She telephoned the divisional inspector and told him what happened. He told her to call him back later.

Not daunted

She went to the station officer and related the experience, indicating that she would like to make an entry in the station diary. She was told to wait. She walked away, but as she did, the station officer related the conversation to a junior constable. She would not be daunted.

She left the police station and went to the doctor. She was surprised that while at the facility, a cop she has had friendly exchanges with, came to see her. "He told me that nothing would come of it, it's my word against theirs, furthermore, a we squaddy."

Those words sank in and realising that it was a criminal act that was committed against her, she said that she assured him that she was going to press the case, so she remained for her examination.

"I am a no-nonsense person and at times get angry at even some of the parents who, through their negligence at times, cause these things to happen to their children," said the cop who is also responsible for investigating sexual offence cases, including buggery, rape, carnal abuse and incest.

"It's ironic that all this time I would try to assure the alleged victims that I share their pain, yet, I never realised the magnitude of the emotional hurt that they had to endure. Now, as a victim myself, I have no one to lean on."

11-page statement

Said the victim: "I gave an 11-page statement. The policeman is still at work, I see him every day. His friends continue to jeer me, passing remarks each time they pass where I am."

"The detective inspector is his boss and the file must pass through his hands at one point or another. Furthermore, the inspector has been using intimidatory tactics. Every day since the incident he will come to my work area, stand up and stare at me for about a minute then walk away. I am not sure of the status of the file. I would not be surprised if he has been showing my statement to others."

To make matters worse, the incident is all over the town, many have seen the female cop and expressed their sympathy, while she is now viewed as the 'whore' of the police division. There are friends who are concerned for her safety, fearing for her life, but she is determined that it will go to trial.

"The matter will go before the court no matter what they do. I have heard many stories of corruption in the JCF, but I never dreamt that I would be a victim of it."