Convicted serial rapist Daniel Holtzclaw may be the most horrific criminal that you’ve never heard of.
Because his victims were economically disadvantaged African American women, many with criminal records, Mr. Holtzclaw, an Oklahoma City police officer, calculated that he could get away with his crimes because no one would believe his victims. He was wrong, as an all-white jury convicted him of eighteen charges last week.
Unfortunately, though, the mainstream media was nearly silent on the case. If the victims had been thirteen white women, the story would have been on every news outlet’s home page.
A predator with a plan
Officer Holtzclaw forced poor black women from the troubled neighborhood he patrolled to submit to sexual abuse in order to avoid further legal trouble. In other words, he extorted sex from them. His victims, many of them substance abusers, testified that they felt powerless and forced to submit.
One woman testified that after she was sexually assaulted by Holtzclaw, she told her boyfriend, who then told her to call the police. Chillingly, she told her boyfriend, ‘He is the police.’”
Officer Holtzclaw worked his night shift alone in one of the state’s poorest neighborhoods. Twelve women and one teenage girl, all black, ranging in age from 17 to 58, testified. A pattern quickly emerged. Officer Holtzclaw would stop them, search them for drugs and run criminal background checks on them. He would then leverage anything he found to pressure them into silence before sexually assaulting them, threatening arrest if they resisted.
Not the first time
As horrific an abuse of power as this story is, this isn’t an isolated case. The Associated Press released the findings of a yearlong investigation which showed that about a thousand police officers nationwide have committed similar sexual assaults while on duty.”?
And that may be the tip of the iceberg, because those are only the officers whose licenses were revoked after sexual assaults. Shockingly, not all states revoke licenses of police convicted of sexual assaults. And more generally, we know that 68 percent of rape survivors never report their rapes to the police, while 98 percent of rapists never serve any time in jail.
For Daniel Holtzclaw and the Oklahoma City police department, the legal system presses on. Jannie Ligons, one of the victims, claims that Officer Holtzclaw was already being investigated by the Oklahoma City police when she was assaulted. As many as half of his victims may have been assaulted while he was under investigation. If so, Ms. Ligons and these other victims have a strong claim that the Oklahoma City police acted negligently when they left Holtzclaw working as a police officer without supervision or monitoring.
Officer Holtzclaw faces up to 236 years in prison.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Avvo.
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32 comments
Brenda
I can't figure out which is more disturbing, the fact that he taped all these woman or the people in denial about it being about race . Ignoring it will not make it go away ........
Stace
I disagree. I live in New York and I heard about this story the day he was arrest. The same argument can be made whenever a cop shoots an unarmed white kid btw. An unarmed white teen was killed by a black cop the week after mike brown was shot and that made less headlines then this. While we'd all like to think race plays a role in this, the truth it it's the media who decides what and who are worthy enough. It's the media that's been dividing this nation and stirring all this newfound racial violence. Don't believe me? Well, ask yourself this. How did you learn about any racial violence in recent years? How did it make you feel? Did you hate other races beforehand?
sara
It's not neccessarily the race thing..It's the fact that these pigs think no one will believe the poor,the drug addict,the disadvantaged..or some don't care
Lora
Spot on with this comment
Randy
Thankyou Stace,
It is the media, trying to take a bad situation and make it national news worthy.
There are some sick people out there that want to find an excuse to hate somebody. Some are white, some are black, Asian, Arab. The news just fans the flames and then reports it when it erupts.
Patricia Teijeiro Paulson
What you really mean is, PROSTITUTES were trading sex with some shit, who happened to sneak on to the police force, in order to get away with their crimes? RIGHT? These women were NOT RAPED they agreed to have sex so they would not go to jail. THAT IS NOT RAPE, IT'S PROSTITUTION.
sara
My point I appologize because this hit a serious no joke of a sensitive area with me...I survived that life I moved on conntinuing to...but no if I was saying I had agreed to a deed for $ he took..it'd b " theft of services", 're read it...that's all I'm saying. Everyone loves to .Hate on these women...yet ..well enough said.
TruthSerum
This story is sad. These comments are rife with misinformation. He is not Latino. He's Asian and White. Also, this is not race baiting. The lawyer who wrote this article just so happens to be white and is merely pointing out the truth. He targeted these women ALL of who just happened to be poor black women with criminal records (at least 13 different occasions he perpetrated which would constitute a trend). Pointing out a nearly ten year old case in which a murder happened which was not ever looked at as being racially motivated and one in which was picked up by the KKK shows who the real race baiter is. The ten year old case you speak of (which is sad nonetheless) was one of people who were drug addicts committing unspeakable acts to improperly gain money. This case which was just resolved was about a college educated law enforcement officer (ex athlete at that) who preyed on women with a similar demographic and socioeconomic status. He used his badge to commit unspeakable acts that have racial undertones. His girlfriend or maybe ex gf, by the way wasn't black. All the victims were. He was allowed to patrol after complaints were made, and he was able to perpetrate more. There was minimal coverage until the sentencing and Mrs. Bloom is pointing out that had these been average white soccer moms, the outrage would've been widespread and coverage would've been there. In all honesty, had these been soccer moms of any race, he wouldn't have been able to get away with even one, let alone 13. He's a monster who played the odds on societies prejudices and stereotypes. He lost in this case, but like Lisa points out, how many of these cops are winning the gamble that he took?
bob
Must be a RACIST black reporter.
Rich-D
The author's comment "If the victims had been thirteen white women, the story would have been on every news outlet’s home page" A totally outlandish statement. There are many more white people shot and killed by police officers. when has the media focused on those killing like they do when a person of color is killed by the police.
The media doesn't focus on black on black killings, nor black on white killings. However, extraordinary and unending focus is placed on white on black killings. If the media would do their job of reporting news without commentary which appears intended to incite racial disharmony, we would all be better off!
Joe
The "FORCE" of white privilege is strong with you. As soon as you brought up black on black crime, I peeped your ignorance. All crime is INTRARACIAL, and white on white homicide is a shade behind the numbers for black Americans. You cannot justify police misconduct and brutality by blaming the victims of it. The police are supposed to protect and serve. They are there to enforce the law, not act as judge, jury, and executioner. The sad part is that unless you're an uber-rich white man, you're a victim too. Research the Bacon Rebellion, and learn how racial discord, and white supremacy were first utilized in America. White supremacy is one of many tools used by the powers that be to keep us divided instead of rising up as one. If you really are God fearing, then you must believe that people are people, no matter what so called race they belong to. Black poverty, crime, and ghettos, are NO accident. A person that believes blacks are inferior will justify and associate degradation of black people. A person who truly believes in freedom, justice, and equality will search for the causes and answers to these problems.
Anonymous
Actually it never got media attention because he was sentenced.
justme
I'm so sick and tired of that one liner "if it was a white so and so everyone would know"....give it a break!
justreality
Are you serious dude? It's the world we live in.....
Ogmios
Take a good look at him. he has downs syndrome; granted a borderline case, but it does lead one to ask, why do most police agencies chose drones instead of free thinking men/women with brains. I know they claim to test for judgement, but in actuality they chose based upon someone who will follow orders. Very few look for psychological balance, hell they probably have little clue what that even is. I state this from first hard experience.
Wayne
He does not have "Downs" syndrome, he is half Japanese.
Someone
First of all a person cannot have a borderline case of Downs. A person has it the extra chromosome or they don't. Secondly, he is partially Asian. The last thing is the police force does not hire drones. If you think they are drones and not free thinkers, I hope you are never in the position of needing their help. Many men and women with integrity put their lives in the line everyday for losers like yourself.
Eman Laerton
This is in reply to Lisa Blooms report on the Oklahoma City police officer. To imply that there are more officers out there that do this is awful. I'd venture there's plenty of attorneys (many of whom are not short on ego) who have committed plenty of horrible acts as well. They have the legal knowledge to fend off a conviction. You wouldn't see that on any major networks either. For the record, I first saw this story on CNN and then again on Foxnews. I'd say your comment about mainstream media ignoring it was quite incorrect.
Bobby James
Eman Laerton I have one newspaper and 5 different news TV stations and never saw a thing about this till it came on my Suspect E-mail.
For Jerome Davis the jury could have been 3 foot tall, green with orange poke-a-dots,
and they would have convicted him. People don't likes RAPIST of any color.
For Captain Howdy and T.N.. The RAPIST should not spend a second in jail.
Within 10 seconds after the GUILTY was read he should have been taken out of the courtroom and had a bullet put in the back of his head. There are most likely 50,000
cops that would have been happy to do that. I'm a retired cop and would not have charged for the bullet. 22 short costs about 15 cents. I could afford that
jerome davis
Look at the guy he's Latino he changed his name .if he had been white he would never be conviction
Brett the white dude
What the hell do u mean if he was white he would've never have been convicted? Rape is rape regardless of what race commits the crime. Its not the 1960's guy. Ignorant comment my friend. Just sayin.
Media is trash
This is a garbage written story. You took the time
To take something so horrible and put a race twist into it. It was national news as I watched clear up north. You should be ashamed of yourself for this. It was already heinous. You failed to report that he is partly Asian...but were quick to note an all white jury....
Patricia Teijeiro Paulson
So true. Also she slips the fact that they were ALL criminals, and they agreed to the sex. He didn't RAPE anyone.
C Andrews
Unfortunately, though, the mainstream media was nearly silent on the case. If the victims had been thirteen white women, the story would have been on every news outlet’s home page.
This was on conservative Fox News website for at least three days.
Nikolagjonaj
This man was pathetic...youre article is pathetic...he preyed upon woman that he thought were to scared to come forward. However you preyed upon youre readers just to turn this in a race issue...I am a proud white american man that would put that monster behind prison regardless of race. I respect all races..However i dont respect the reporter race thats always contributing to racism. How sad ...my prayers go to all the woman who have endured this...white black green or yellow.The american people are sick of this racist programing by the media..
Flossie
Yellow?.....haha
T.N.
I hope he goes to prison for the max sentence and finds out first hand how it feels to be sexually assaulted!
Patricia Teijeiro Paulson
What "sexual assault" are you referring to? They AGREED to have sex so they would not be charged with CRIMES! They are filth and the deserve nothing.
Bert
The brutal murder of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom by black thugs also got very little media attention. The media only posts what ever feeds their narrative at the time. Now do us all a favor and STOP RACE BAITING.
Bigdeal
Actually that case received attention plus was televised.
Captain Howdy
When is this scumthugcop going to be sentenced?
Outrageous
We haven't heard of him because he is a cop!