Sheriff: Rape Kits Unnecessary Since Most Rape Accusations Are False

[Kori]

Also I posted on a Facebook page belonging to him this video and calling him pro-rape and anti woman. He responded to me with this:

I have received many calls today from people all across the United States about the press release that I did on Monday. After talking to these folks and explaining what I really meant I believe they have a different prospective. I want to explain what I was trying to say in the interview. I misspoke when I said the majority of our rape cases are consensual sex. The meaning behind my statement that has been misunderstood is that when a case is called into the dispatch center each and every one is thoroughly investigated. A Deputy is sent to every one of these cases and that Deputy then in turn contacts the on call detective to help with the investigation. In some of these cases through the investigation it may be determined that the sex was consensual, but not always. In these types of cases after the investigation is complete and it was determined that the sex was consensual I don't believe that those kits should be sent to the lab. I now understand that I should have explained myself further so as to not cause this type of confusion. This has been a very humbling experience and I now know that I have to clarify myself more when speaking of sensitive matters such as this. I know that it is hard for victims to come forward on sexual assault cases. I spoke to a rape victim today and told her that I knew it was hard for her to come forward. I want to apologize to anyone who I might have offended with my statement as my main responsibility is to the public’s safety and well being and maintaining their trust. I did a 10 minute interview and this is what came out of it and for that I am truly sorry.

I can also say with regret that I now know what it is like to be cyber bullied. Not only have I been threatened but so has my family. I hope that this will clear things up a bit.

Sheriff Craig T. Rowland
Bingham County
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I responded with this:

I am a man that had my first love use blackmail in order to control me. That blackmail was her threatening to go to the police saying I raped her. However rape is very serious and I do not dismiss a woman saying she was raped because of that. Rape is a very painful, humiliating, and traumatic experience. Whoever threatened you should be ashamed because that is uncalled for because it is not necessary. Also I want to say the internet is the most powerful weapon a civilian can wield because if someone messes up they hear about it quickly. To everyone: use public condemnation not violence in someone saying something wrong. Self Defense is fine but only if the situation calls for it. Sheriff your job is a responsibility and if you learn from this then fantastic. I hope that happens.

I know it was a copy pasted statement but regardless as George Torwell said: Internet is Strength.

 

[SomeRandom]

I feel like society has its heart in the right place. But I think it has a tendency to go full angry mob at a moments notice. The mere mention of rape or God forbid a child saying they were inappropriately touched tends to bring out such strong emotions that it's sometimes hard to have a logical discussion. Or to properly deal with various grey areas that may crop up from time to time.
Most public figures have to be excruciatingly specific in statements concerning anything to do with sex crimes. Else the pitchforks will be sharpened with haste.
Sometimes they're not. That's not really their fault, most of the time anyway. But then people respond not out of logical debate, but out of a deep place of hurt. Which is understandable. But, on the internet especially, perhaps it's better not to react so strongly.
Besides police don't seem to have a good reputation concerning word choice. Seems like the guy in this case gave an incomplete statement. That's not pro rape or anti woman, that's just lack of articulation. But then again I'm not very familiar with the Sheriff in question so maybe I'm wrong and he's a *********.

 

[Deathbydefault]

Seems like there are still people in this country that don't understand the emptiness of threatening comments on the internet.
If they were going to kill you and your family they would do it, not say they're going to do it in a message sent directly to you.

Overall I agree rape kits should be a required thing so long as they respect decency and aren't invasive.

I was once called in on a false rape charge, the police handled me less than kindly.
It took my girlfriend, my best friend, six people from school and my neighbors to explain that I was innocent of this.
Still spent the night there, I guess it's good they take their job seriously around here.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

I was once called in on a false rape charge, the police handled me less than kindly.
It took my girlfriend, my best friend, six people from school and my neighbors to explain that I was innocent of this.
Still spent the night there, I guess it's good they take their job seriously around here.

That's very sad, whatever happened to the presumption of innocence.

 

[Deathbydefault]

That's very sad, whatever happened to the presumption of innocence.

It's only human reaction, my looks don't help that front.
The police officers were probably thinking of their daughters or something when they took me in under the presumption of my being a rapist.

 

[Revoltingest]

That's very sad, whatever happened to the presumption of innocence.

I've spoken before about a deputy sheriff who did some maintenance for me.
He talked about how he & his fellow cop buddies would regularly dispense
summary justice, ie, beat the crap out of someone they decided was guilty.
I believe him because he had major anger issues, & beat his girlfriend.
Be very careful around cops.
Not all are there to serve you.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

At the risk of being called a supercilious European, I'd say that if you allow police to be elected, especially in backward communities, you'll get quite a few undesirables. Add to that the fact that there doesn't seem to be any mechanism for inspecting and monitoring police conduct and performance in the US, and it's all rather scary.

 

[Sultan Of Swing]

At the risk of being called a supercilious European, I'd say that if you allow police to be elected, especially in backward communities, you'll get quite a few undesirables. Add to that the fact that there doesn't seem to be any mechanism for inspecting and monitoring police conduct and performance in the US, and it's all rather scary.

Yes, you are a supercilious European.