A police officer took a teen for a rape kit. Then he assaulted her, too.

[Ferguson97]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2024/new-orleans-police-child-sexual-abuse-rodney-vicknair/

The 14-year-old did not want to go to the emergency room. Her mother had begged her. Her therapist had gently prodded. And now there was a police officer in her living room.

“You really should think about it,” he said.

He introduced himself as Officer Rodney Vicknair. His New Orleans Police Department cruiser was waiting outside, ready to take her to the hospital for a rape kit. Early that morning, the girl said, a 17-year-old friend had forced himself on her.

Under the police department’s rules, a case like this was supposed to be handled from the start by a detective trained in sex crimes or child abuse. But on this afternoon in May of 2020, it was Vicknair, a patrol officer with a troubled past, who knocked on the girl’s door.

He tried to coax her into changing her mind. “If I’m a young man that has done something wrong to a young lady and she doesn’t follow up and press the issue,” Vicknair said as his body camera recorded the conversation, “then I’m gonna go out and do it to another young lady.”

“And it’s gonna be worse, maybe, the next time,” Vicknair said, “because I’m gonna think in my head, ‘Oh, I got the power. I can go further this time.’ ”

The girl didn’t want that. She just wanted this to be over.

She didn’t know it was only the beginning. Four months later, police would arrest a man for sexually assaulting the girl. But it wouldn’t be her teenage friend. It would be Officer Rodney Vicknair.

I think this is the angriest that a non-political article has made me in a while. Just an unconscionable abuse of power.

[Lambsbread]

I'm not going to lie, reading this story made me sick. The insidious ways the abuse started going further and further little by little was just agonizing to read. I can't express anything other than sympathy for that girl. Seems like no one ever cared to take care of her or give her the help she needed, instead she was abused at every turn. The stats about police committing sexual violence against children were stomach churning, too. I have no words other than just...man. I'm so sorry for everyone who has to go through that.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Report: Nearly 200 New Orleans Cops Were Accused Of Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Violence, or Harassment. Vicknair had numerous complaints filed against him before his dismissal and sentencing of 14 years.

Police are wrongfully killing and raping more Americans than illegal immigrants. Cut his balls off.

[GP270watch]

 Sex crimes detectives that deal with victims should almost always be women, IMO. Men are too creepy.

[President Johnson]

Disgusting.

The greatest nightmare and enemy of a good police officer is a bad police officer. The guy obviously should be locked up as he not only committed crimes, he also betrayed his uniform and oath of office.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Why are we hiring cops with multiple arrests and convictions?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Why are we hiring cops with multiple arrests and convictions?

In fairness, Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the country. There's only so many people you can filter out.

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Why are we hiring cops with multiple arrests and convictions?

No one else wants to do the job.

[jojoju1998]

Why are we hiring cops with multiple arrests and convictions?

If you have a college degree, in a good major, and you have several job offers with work life balance, benefits, and competitive compensation, you're not going to become a police officer.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Report: Nearly 200 New Orleans Cops Were Accused Of Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Violence, or Harassment. Vicknair had numerous complaints filed against him before his dismissal and sentencing of 14 years.

Police are wrongfully killing and raping more Americans than illegal immigrants. Cut his balls off.

Citation needed. 

But, yes, cops who do this should be prosecuted, and their doing it as police officers should be considered an aggravating circumstance.