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by Apollonia Jordan
This disgusting Bay Area Police sex scandal has victims speaking out about the abuse they have received from the hands of sworn police officers. Many of these victims are confessing that they were underage during some of these sexual encounters.
Officers who are sworn to protect and serve have failed our communities! The community wants these criminal cops held accountable!
We want young men and women who have been abused at the hands of sworn police officers to know that they have a support system and a voice! You are victims and are respected. You are loved, and you have a community of people willing to fight for your justice!
We encourage more victims to come forth and tell their stories. Here is the second part of my interview with attorney Adante Pointer. Hear the encouraging words he has for the victims and what he believes we need to do as a community to bring justice to these victims. Check it out …
Apollonia: Can sex abuse be looked at as a form of civil rights abuse as well?
Adante: Yes, our office has had cases before where officers who were on duty, had engaged in sexual assaults or inappropriate conduct.
Apollonia: So is your office willing to represent these victims? Are you currently representing Celeste Guap?
Adante: No, at this current time we are not representing Celeste Guap or any of the victims in this case. No one has reached out to us at this time.
Apollonia: What advice would you give to Celeste Guap or any other victim who may be afraid to come forward and tell the truth about these officers and their wrongdoings?
Adante: I would tell them that there is a community of people out here who care about them, who will believe them and who will fight for their rights. Even though they may feel that no one will believe them or pay any attention to their claims, I want to assure them that support is available.
The police and those who seek to protect these police may be so powerful that they feel their voice will not be heard. I want to assure them that there are individuals like myself in the community who are concerned and willing to stand up for justice and to assist them with obtaining the justice that they deserve.
There is a community of people out here who care about them, who will believe them and who will fight for their rights.
Apollonia: Where does the community go from here in regards to healing and regaining trust with these police who patrol our communities?
Adante: That’s a timeless question because throughout time there have been incidents where sworn officers have been involved in this sort of inappropriate conduct, which causes the community not to trust them. As opposed to the question being asked in terms of what the community could do, I believe the question should be focused more towards what the police can do now in order to regain the trust of the community.
What are the police willing to do? What are the police going to do? What are they willing to commit to in order to gain the trust that they seek from the community? Are they willing to earn and keep the respect that they feel that are entitled? I think those are the questions that need to be posed to these officers and to these police departments and people who are responsible for keeping the police departments in line.
I believe the question should be focused more towards what the police can do now in order to regain the trust of the community.
When our officers are committing crimes, are you going to hold them accountable? Any other person who found themselves in a sex scandal like this, with this much evidence, would surely soon be a defendant in a criminal case. It just doesn’t seem to work the same way if you’re wearing a badge.
Apollonia: Let’s look back to the Oakland police officer case called “The Riders,” where three Oakland police officers who were charged were found not guilty. What do you say to those people who want to come forward but lack belief in this justice system?
Adante: I understand their frustrations. It is also very frustrating for me. But, because we know that we deserve justice, we must be diligent; we must continue to fight and never give up. You can’t fall into the mind-state that this is the way it will always be. The moment you do that, the people for injustice have won.
Apollonia: Thank you for your time.
Adante: Thank you for allowing me to speak on this very important information. The victims deserve for their stories to be told and the police deserve to be held accountable.
Bay Area journalist and longtime Bay View writer Apollonia Jordan can be reached at apollonia@sfbayviewnews.wpenginepowered.com.
