In 2016, a large number of police were arrested and charged with child abuse, however, these crimes have been long overshadowed by the number of police killings. Studies have shown that police families have a 40% greater chance of experiencing domestic violence than the average family. With a growing number of children becoming victims of police violence, particularly at the officer’s home, it is no longer a problem that can be overlooked.
The most recent case of police child abuse comes out of Revere, Massachusetts. Officer Marcos Garcia was arrested and charged with child abuse after beating his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son with a belt. The injuries were noticed at school when a teacher reported them to police. When questioned, Garcia stated that he was disciplining the boy for not eating dinner. The child’s mother, who is also a police officer, was initially placed on leave before also being charged with the boy’s injuries.
In December, a video surfaced showing a Nassau County Florida Deputy beating his 10-year-old daughter with a belt. The video was recorded by the deputy’s son and quickly uploaded to YouTube. According to the boy, the video was to show the types of abuses he and his sister have endured. The deputy, identified as Troy Gill, was placed on paid vacation after the incident, and his family are under investigation by the Department of Children and Families.
Another case out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, involved a female officer who abused her 12-year-old step son. Officer Tracy Reneau was driving her step son across Colorado, however, when he arrived at his destination he had a large bruise that she could not explain. The police were notified and there was enough evidence to arrest and charge Reneau, however, a jury found her not guilty at trial. This case goes to show that even when there is sufficient evidence of a heinous crime, that blue privilege usually wins.
In October 2016, an Oklahoma County Deputy resigned as the result of an investigation into child abuse. Deputy Tyler Clanahan beat his 7-year-old son with a belt for not finishing his homework. According to the arrest affidavits, “Clanahan spanked him with a belt for not completing an assignment. Clanahan told him if he continued to not do his school work…Clanahan would make the spankings harder.” His son was found to have strap marks on his back, side, buttocks and legs. Clanahan was charged with felony child abuse.
Officers are arrested and charged with domestic and child abuse on a regular basis, however, due to the large number of police killings, over 1150 in 2016, these cases are rarely ever heard about. The fact that police departments fail to adequately discipline officers only adds to the problem. According to the National Center for Women and Policing, the most common punishment for allegations of domestic abuse are “counseling.” Only 19% of agencies stated they would terminate an officer for a second offense. It is also found that allegations of abuse in the home have no impact on the officer’s ability to be promoted.
While police shootings overshadow all other incidents of police violence, the tendency for police to abuse their children is a very real problem. The two stem from a need to dominate and have others bow down to their authority. The desire to express violence on others doesn’t end with strangers on the street, as we have seen in so many cases. The reality is that police are equally as willing to use violence against a criminal as they would against a member of their own family.
Sources: Women and Policing, Steam Boat Today, CBS Local, News 4 Jax.
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