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mamabearCali wrote:So we who were outraged at the start, and were admonished to wait and let the facts play out have done so. With precious little satisfaction. Two women were digitally raped by officers under color of law and there were next to nothing of consequences for the offenders. There is nothing to stop this from happening again to me or to my daughters.

As has been alluded to, there is precious little I can do to stop it. At least if an unbadged criminal attacks me I can fight them off. If a criminal with a badge (which is what i consider these two officers to be)decides to rape me I must stand still and let it happen. Then even if it is brought to light those who attacked me violently (rape is violent even undercor of law) will get away with two months of lost salary as a punishment because someone else told her to do it! How is this justice? How is this reassuring to the rest of us women that we will not be raped and our rapist let go.

My eight year old would know better than to give me that excuse (but johnny told me to hit susie) for anything. I am disgusted and very upset and my confidence in DPS is SEVERELY shaken.

I could respect the grand jury (though I do not understand how they accepted that excuse), but what I cannot abide is that this officer who was willing to violate two women in a most disturbing fashion will be back on the beat.


We think we are so sophisticated in our justice system, but even in far more brutal times representatives of the govt that raped people in good standing with the gov't faced justice.

I was horrified, outraged, and heart broken that it happened by those we trust and respect, but also that it happened here in Texas. When i first read it, I told myself, not in Texas, but was so shocked to find it was. This was an injustice and both should have been fired. To the doubters, just ask yourself if it had been YOUR daughter how you would view the incident.

I agree with MambearCali and CHLLady.
I hold our police to a higher standard. When they fail, it damages the integrity of the whole system. I'm told our legal system is flawed, but it's the best there is. Regardless of our legal process, I know right from wrong and I'm responsible for my actions. I expect our police to act responsibly or they should leave the force. That means they have no business being LEO's if they can't find the right address and shoot a homeowner or they think a body cavity search is necessary based on what they smell.

I am at the point where I am afraid of the incompetence of law enforcement. DPS and my local police are disgusting and need to demonstrate an improvement.
My two cents,
Nick

mamabearCali wrote:So we who were outraged at the start, and were admonished to wait and let the facts play out have done so. With precious little satisfaction. Two women were digitally raped by officers under color of law and there were next to nothing of consequences for the offenders. There is nothing to stop this from happening again to me or to my daughters.

As has been alluded to, there is precious little I can do to stop it. At least if an unbadged criminal attacks me I can fight them off. If a criminal with a badge (which is what i consider these two officers to be)decides to rape me I must stand still and let it happen. Then even if it is brought to light those who attacked me violently (rape is violent even undercor of law) will get away with two months of lost salary as a punishment because someone else told her to do it! How is this justice? How is this reassuring to the rest of us women that we will not be raped and our rapist let go.

My eight year old would know better than to give me that excuse (but johnny told me to hit susie) for anything. I am disgusted and very upset and my confidence in DPS is SEVERELY shaken.

I could respect the grand jury (though I do not understand how they accepted that excuse), but what I cannot abide is that this officer who was willing to violate two women in a most disturbing fashion will be back on the beat.


We think we are so sophisticated in our justice system, but even in far more brutal times representatives of the govt that raped people in good standing with the gov't faced justice.

Found this on the thread about the Arlington robbers shooting their accomplice. Only charged with official oppression. The last line is very telling. Apparently she cut a deal.

Dobbs and Helleson are both expected to testify Friday before the judge decides the type and terms of probation for the former trooper.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Former ... 98061.html

No integrity as well as being a Predator. I guess that's the norm with all Criminals...

"Helleson pleaded guilty Friday to two charges of official oppression before the case could go to trial. It’s a misdemeanor but will remain on her permanent record, eliminating her from future law enforcement jobs."

And while prosecutors say Helleson has previously admitted to a full, invasive search, on the stand Friday, the former trooper denied it. "At no time did I ever stick my finger in any part of anyone’s body," she said. "That never happened."

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Trooper- ... 58561.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh good so now rapists get two years of probation. I know of a man who did nothing more than put his gun on in view of a school bus who was threatened with much more than that.

This was rape and it was violent by it's very nature. What makes it worse is that it is rape under color of law. Which means that the women could not even fight back against the person violating them. I don't think two years of probation covers that.

I understand that was not what she was convicted of and that she did a plea deal, but still. I get precious little satisfaction from knowing that a person could rape my daughter and I and then even though she admitted to what she did, and it was caught on tape that they would get off so light cause "someone told her to do it" while she was wearing a uniform.

$185,000 settlement. Mixed feelings here. Wish this was being paid by the ex trooper instead of our tax money.

jmra wrote:$185,000 settlement. Mixed feelings here. Wish this was being paid by the ex trooper instead of our tax money.

Me too. Perhaps if they had to pay these settlements instead of the city that would be a mitigating factor in in behavior and the execution of illegal orders.

jmra wrote:$185,000 settlement. Mixed feelings here. Wish this was being paid by the ex trooper instead of our tax money.

The Law Enforcement Liability insurance carrier pays for such claims which lessens the sting to the city and bad cop. The taxpayers will end up footing the bill for the deductible and higher insurance premiums.

I am just as outraged by the other officer's (Farrell) involvement in this incident. He is just as culpable as he requested the illegal search and knew it was happening. He is an accomplice and got a free pass.

mojo84 wrote:

jmra wrote:$185,000 settlement. Mixed feelings here. Wish this was being paid by the ex trooper instead of our tax money.

The Law Enforcement Liability insurance carrier pays for such claims which lessens the sting to the city and bad cop. The taxpayers will end up footing the bill for the deductible and higher insurance premiums.

This frosts my butt for the following reasons:

First of all, the bad cop should get no breaks. A bad cop should feel the full sting. LEOs are held to a higher standard because they carry great responsibility, and that is how it should be. But that standard means nothing if they have a reduced penalty for violating it. If the penalty is less than you or I would face for the same kind of infraction, then it means that they are actually held to a LOWER standard than you or I. That would be wrong. The department didn't rape those two women in such a disgusting fashion; that cop did it. She did it in violation of departmental standards. She should bear the full weight of the financial damages.

Secondly, who pays for the insurance premium.....the taxpayers, or some other mysterious entity? When enough of these incidences happen, who pays the premium increase.....the taxpayers, or some other mysterious entity? The fact is, our tax money ends up paying for this kind of misbehavior, even if we try to hide that fact by saying the insurance carrier pays it. If officers involved didn't engage in criminal behavior, taxpayers wouldn't need to even pay for this liability insurance. I can understand LE liability for things like vehicular accidents where the officer involved bears some liability for an accident, but RAPE is not accidental. RAPISTS shouldn't get special consideration to protect their careers, and they should be prosecuted and punished as RAPISTS, not as someone who was merely overzealous. And if there are financial damages assessed, the RAPIST should pay 100% of it. The insurance payout shouldn't even be considered, so that the taxpayers don't have to foot the bill for bad behavior.

The ONLY give I can see in this is whatever liability a department incurs by making a bad hire. But the fact remains that the department didn't force the cop to commit a criminal act. She did that all by her onesies.

Yep. TAM, I'm right with you. You would be surprised to see how many claims get paid by law enforcement professional liabilityv with the costs of the deductible and increased premiums being passed on to you and me. You would also be surprised how often bad cops can move from agency to agency when they do get in trouble. It's more common than most realize, especially among smaller agencies.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

mojo84 wrote:

jmra wrote:$185,000 settlement. Mixed feelings here. Wish this was being paid by the ex trooper instead of our tax money.

The Law Enforcement Liability insurance carrier pays for such claims which lessens the sting to the city and bad cop. The taxpayers will end up footing the bill for the deductible and higher insurance premiums.

This frosts my butt for the following reasons:

First of all, the bad cop should get no breaks. A bad cop should feel the full sting. LEOs are held to a higher standard because they carry great responsibility, and that is how it should be. But that standard means nothing if they have a reduced penalty for violating it. If the penalty is less than you or I would face for the same kind of infraction, then it means that they are actually held to a LOWER standard than you or I. That would be wrong. The department didn't rape those two women in such a disgusting fashion; that cop did it. She did it in violation of departmental standards. She should bear the full weight of the financial damages.

Secondly, who pays for the insurance premium.....the taxpayers, or some other mysterious entity? When enough of these incidences happen, who pays the premium increase.....the taxpayers, or some other mysterious entity? The fact is, our tax money ends up paying for this kind of misbehavior, even if we try to hide that fact by saying the insurance carrier pays it. If officers involved didn't engage in criminal behavior, taxpayers wouldn't need to even pay for this liability insurance. I can understand LE liability for things like vehicular accidents where the officer involved bears some liability for an accident, but RAPE is not accidental. RAPISTS shouldn't get special consideration to protect their careers, and they should be prosecuted and punished as RAPISTS, not as someone who was merely overzealous. And if there are financial damages assessed, the RAPIST should pay 100% of it. The insurance payout shouldn't even be considered, so that the taxpayers don't have to foot the bill for bad behavior.

The ONLY give I can see in this is whatever liability a department incurs by making a bad hire. But the fact remains that the department didn't force the cop to commit a criminal act. She did that all by her onesies.

.
I with you TAM. Not only for the financial burden on the public , but especially that so many times felonious acts by LEO's are reduced to official oppression, a misdemeanor. I am pro LEO so don't get me wrong. Just that we should all be treated equally, PERIOD!

mojo84 wrote:

jmra wrote:$185,000 settlement. Mixed feelings here. Wish this was being paid by the ex trooper instead of our tax money.

The Law Enforcement Liability insurance carrier pays for such claims which lessens the sting to the city and bad cop. The taxpayers will end up footing the bill for the deductible and higher insurance premiums.

I thought liability insurance didn't cover intentional acts.

There's a difference between general/homeowners liability and Professional Liability (errors and ommissions) insurance. Misconduct, errors and omissions are covered for professionals that are expected to deliver services to a certain standard. It does not provide criminal defense coverage for the person that committed the criminal act.