A SKID ROW COP’S OPINION 10

SOMETHING FOR THE LADIES OF SKID ROW AND BEYOND

Hello everyone and Happy Holidays.  I am Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph of LAPD Central Community Police Station.  Although crime is down due to the continued efforts of the Safer Cities Initiative, there are still many marginalized classes of individuals who are vulnerable to the harshness of Skid Row.  Mixed in with these vulnerable groups is the criminal element such as 400 registered sex offenders (and climbing), as well as sex offenders who have not been caught yet committing crimes of a sexual nature.

Over the years, one of the groups I have identified that is more vulnerable to sex crimes and domestic violence are the women of Skid Row.  Many of them have expressed to me that they have been victimized sexually, but never reported the crime due to misinformation they received from various sources about reporting crimes to the police.  

As you know one of my biggest missions in blogging my opinions, is to dispel myths and radically extreme negative perceptions of law enforcements.  One of the biggest myths preventing women from reporting crimes of rape or domestic violence to police is they can’t because they might be engaged in criminal activity, addicted to drugs, or are suffering from mental illness.  They believe that they may be criminalized or re-victimized by the police for reporting sexual crimes.  This is an absolute and complete falsehood.

I want to make it abundantly clear to the women of Skid Row and beyond, no matter what your social status, criminal activity past or present, or degree of mental illness, you have a fundamental right to report crimes committed against you by sexual predators without fear of being arrested for doing so.  I need you to know that we as law enforcement officers are not here to judge you, we are here to serve and to protect you whether you believe we care or not.

So if you are engaged in prostitution, and are raped, you can come to us.  If you are engaged in narcotics activity and are sexually assaulted, you can report it.  If you suffer from mental illness, you can come to us for assistance.  If you have minor warrants, you can still report crimes committed against you or other women in skid row.

I clearly understand that reporting these crimes can be a long tedious process.  Sometimes in reporting crimes committed against you, you may feel as if you are reliving the experience all over again. Yet you must understand that reporting these crimes will help us take these criminals off the streets so they cannot hurt you or anyone else in the skid row area.

One month ago, I launched an education seminar dubbed “Ladies Night” designed to inform women in skid Row about laws designed with them in mind.  I also provide realistic self-defense training designed to create distance from attackers, draw attention to the crime committed against them, provide an avenue of escape, and to buy time until the police can assist them.  I am more than willing to engage in this seminar with any group that requests it.  I will cover topics, such as Rape, Domestic Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and other common crimes that women in high crime areas are routinely exposed to.

In closing, please remember that a law enforcement agency is only as successful in crime reduction as the support they receive from the community they serve.  For the support thus far, I thank the Skid Row community.  Yet I strongly believe we can do more to work together in 2009 to drive down crime and create a safe environment conducive to change in your lives.  God Bless you all, and Happy Holidays.

If there is any interest in the “Ladies Night” seminar, you can contact me at (213) 793-0740 or Email me at 32511@lapd.lacity.org

Comments

[With Hope in LA]

In lieu of exchanging Christmas gifts, my husband and I donated to two LA-based charities benefitting homeless women and youth. Based on how we feel as a result of contributing to these two organizations, I think that this was the best gift we could have given to ourselves and would encourage others to do the same!

[Mufon]

Outstanding letter and work, as always, Officer Joseph. I've no doubt, as most of us do, that you do more in one shift to help the homeless than all the critics, armchair quarterbacks, ACLU members and other cop-haters combined in one year. While you are out dealing with the issue, the aforementioned dolts are constantly criticizing, suing, exploiting and impeding you from the luxury of their safe homes, miles away from your beat, or a courtroom insulated from real life, as they foist their unattainable ridiculous goals upon everyone else, not affected themselves by their own efforts. Rest assured many of us support you, and we all wish you a Merry Christmas, and safety to you and yours for the remainder of this year and for 2009.

[SLO Deon Joseph]

Hello With Hope LA... SLO Joseph here. I would like to thank you and your husband for donating to the two ogranizations you speak of. In doing so in this manner, you not only displayed a concern for your fellow man, but you did it in a responsible way. We are still having problems with well intentioned groups feeding the homeless and throwing bags of clothes and blankets in the street, which creates chaos, and removes any incentive for those in need to seek the number of wonderful programs and services the missions provide to help get them on their feet and help them become productive members of society.

I work closely with serveral of the major missions in the area, and I assure you that your donations will not go to waste, and will be distributed in an orderly and responsible manner. Thank you and God Bless you and Happy new year!!!

[Kyle]

Its especially when they're under the influence that they're most vulnerable. If they're high on crack cocaine for example, they know that going to the police may mean arresting the pervert responsible for whatever sexual crime was commited but then they could also be arrested for being under the influence. Prostitutes of Skid Row in my opinion are in a worse situation. One of their johns decides to rape them and not pay, they go to the cops and they wind up in jail for soliciting. Also the cops sometimes do nothing. So its considered a waste.

[Tired of bashing]

Kyle, you don't understand the law. When a woman is raped and reports it to the police, a report is taken, regardless if they are a prostitute. They are not arrested for being a prositute. That is a misdemeanor crime and can only be arrested if observed by an officer. Please research the law before you slam the police. We need supporters, not misinformed citizens.

[Jennie]

Another well written blog. The people of Skid Row are blessed to have such a dedicated officer not only looking out for them but also educated them on how to protect themselves and enabling them to take control of their own situations. Knowledge is power.

Most of your blog could actually be applied to all women in general. In addition to the reasons you wrote, often times out of fear or shame assaults go unreported. Unfortunately many people do feel the police will do nothing which is a complete misconception. Most officers I've ever encountered take all of their calls for service very seriously.

Good program that you have started. It will make a difference for one or many women on Skid Row.

Have a Happy New Year and keep up the good work.