In California, police sexual misconduct is becoming a rising issue. Here is everything you need to know about police sexual misconduct in California.
Content warning: Reports of rape and sexual assault
Police officer sexual misconduct and rape cases are often cloaked in secrecy. Fellow police officers and police departments do everything they can to keep these horrific acts out of the public eye. Despite this, recent media attention on police shootings and other forms of brutality have brought acts of sexual misconduct to light as more and more victims are coming forward and getting the support that they need.
Police officers all over the country have a history of using their guns, badges, and position of power to take advantage of the very people that they are supposed to protect. There are many forms of police sexual misconduct, ranging from rape on a dark street at night during a traffic stop to coercing individuals into sexual favors in a parole officer’s office. It often includes the exploitation and coercion of women and young girls as a means of staying out of trouble and jail.
Related: Sexual Harassment By Police: What You Need to Know
Individual Cases of Police Sexual Misconduct in California
In 2010, a woman was raped by an on-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy during a traffic stop, but was not given justice until November of 2015. Once the deputy had pulled over the woman, he threatened to arrest her for a DUI if she did not submit to his sexual advances. He forced her into his patrol car and drove her to a remote location, where he sexually assaulted and abused her in a variety of ways. That same deputy apparently pulled over another woman two nights later and offered her the same bribe, but she refused. It took 5 years for this first victim to get justice. Not only was she given a settlement of 6.15 million dollars in compensation, but the deputy was also criminally punished for his crime. He received a sentence of nine years in state prison for rape under color of authority and soliciting a bribe.
In another case involving a sexual assault during a traffic stop, the City of Bell paid a woman $750,000 in 2017 in settlement for the victim’s claims from 2007. The police officer in this case was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty. In a similar situation, another cop from San Diego was criminally convicted for sexual assault and one of his victims settled her civil case for $675,000. Additionally, a West Sacramento cop was accused of sexually assaulting six women while in uniform, and a San Bernardino sheriff’s deputy was accused of having sex with a teenager in an Explorer program. While this is not an exhaustive list of police sexual misconduct incidents, it does shed light on how abuse of power is a prevalent issue within the police force. It is also important to note that many victims of police sexual misconduct choose not to come forward out of fear.
Assembly Bill 1455
On February 19, 2021, a new Assembly Bill was introduced to the California Senate. This bill, AB-1455, is also called “Sexual assault by law enforcement officers: actions against public entities: statute of limitations.” The goal of this bill is to create a more “even playing field” and lessen the intimidation that sexual assault survivors face when their attacker is in a position of power. It would do this by extending the statute of limitations to sue to within 10 years of the last date the alleged perpetrator was employed as a law enforcement officer, or within 10 years from the date of conviction, whichever is later.
The current statute of limitations for adult sexual assault victims to file civil claims is 10 years from the date of the last act or attempted act, or within three years from the date the victim discovers an injury or illness. This new proposed bill will only apply to instances of sexual assault while an officer was on duty, in uniform, or armed.
Related: California Statute of Limitations on Sexual Assault
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