The word rape strikes terror in the hearts of women who are most often the targets of a rapist. Rape, often called sexual assault, is one of the vilest crimes that can be committed. It’s a crime I found in my career that can be uglier than a murder and often more difficult to investigate and solve.
While killers most often kill once, rapists often attack repeatedly until imprisoned. Most killers get out of prison and move on with their lives, while rapists often get out of prison and start raping again.
In the hundreds of cases I investigated as a sex crimes detective, I can say I never met a rapist who’d only raped one woman one time.
And that brings me to this week’s ABC15 News investigative series by Dave Biscobing, Investigation uncovers thousands of sexual assault kits left untested by Valley law enforcement. Biscobing found that thousands of sexual assault kits, the kits that contain evidence taken from victims during a medical exam after an attack, had yet to be sent to the crime lab for analysis and DNA testing. DNA is often the key piece of evidence that identifies and links an attacker to a specific crime and possibly others through the national Combined DNA Index System, CODIS.
CODIS is only as good as the data in its system. The collection of evidence by police and analysis by the crime lab are key ingredients in identifying, arresting and prosecuting rapists.
The ABC15 investigation shocked me as a retired detective, husband and father of two daughters.
Hillary Peele, a 2004 sexual assault victim-turned-advocate, told Biscobing that Tempe police didn’t send the sexual assault kit in her case to the lab for analysis for eight months. She reportedly had to call Tempe police repeatedly to get the kit examined. When it finally was, the DNA left behind by her attacker was linked to another rape.
It’s not the job of the victim to prompt police to do their job. Peele said, “It’s difficult enough as a rape victim to come forward. To not have that, the kit, tested is just horrific.”
Sarah Tofte, an advocate with the Joyful Heart Foundation who studies the handling of rape evidence by police, told Biscobing, “I think you’re looking at a jurisdiction that’s not responding effectively to sexual assault,” referring to how things are being done here.
According to the report, Tempe, the city with the highest serious crime rate in the East Valley and one that, according to the FBI, is significantly higher than the crime rate in Phoenix, has 363 untested sexual assault kits. Chandler has 48 and Gilbert has 80. Mesa and the Maricopa and Pinal County sheriffs’ offices test all kits.
Tempe’s police chief and city manager didn’t respond to questions regarding Tempe’s number of untested sexual assault kits.
ABC15 reported in “New York City, police cleared their backlog of untested sexual assault kits and now test every kit that’s collected. Their arrest rate jumped from 40 percent to 70 percent. In Los Angeles County, officials finished testing a backlog of more than 6,000 kits last year. The new DNA led to more than 245 arrests.” Nationally and statewide, the solve rate is 25 percent.
Valley-wide, there are 2,996 untested kits. Phoenix police have over 1,500 untested kits. No telling how many rapists would be thrown in prison were these untested kits examined.
Even with the well-known inadequacies of the Arizona Department of Public Safety crime lab, nothing precludes police from submitting the kits for examination to DPS, a private crime lab or entering into a contract with the Mesa police crime lab like Gilbert has in order to provide better service to its residents.
Biscobing and ABC15 have exposed a huge gap in policing, especially in Phoenix and Tempe.
The failure to aggressively pursue all opportunities to arrest a rapist is a sad commentary.
Incomplete police work only grows crime.
Arizona Willie posted at 8:06 am on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
Hmmm, you claim to be a retired sex crimes detective and then claim to be SHOCKED at the number of untested rape kits.
If you were a sex crimes detective I would think you would be VERY familiar with that lack of testing.
People complaining about the failure to test the kits will scream bloody murder when told how much their taxes go up to pay for all the testing and to improve the local labs and hire people to get the testing done IMMEDIATELY ( which is what < should > happen ).
I agree it is terrible for those kits to be untested --- but don't blame the police or the lab(s) because they can only do as much as the public is willing to fund.
And, as everyone who has lived in Arizona for very long can attest --- Arizonans don't want to pay taxes to fund ANYTHING.
Illbeyourhuckleberry posted at 8:50 am on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
AZ Willie, this is not a funding issue. This is about taking the evidence to the lab, getting the evidence to the lab, getting in line at the lab. Funding is a problem at the lab and will effect when the testing takes place. But if the eveidence never gets in line, it never gets done. [smile]
Arizona Willie posted at 9:23 am on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
huckleberry -- SOMEONE has to pay to have those kits tested.
Are you telling me the police don't have to pay for it?
Are you sure the kits DON'T get taken to the lab?
Where, exactly, are all these kits stored?
Probably in an evidence locker.
But are they taken to the lab or just left to sit because the police don't have the funds to pay the lab?
From what I understand ( could be wrong ) the labs are backed up with DNA test because they don't have enough facilities or technicians to handle them on a ' right now ' basis.
There really isn't much point in the police taking kits to the labs when they know that the labs cannot process them and will not until someone pays for the testing.
It is better they be secured in police custody where they can be protected and accounted for and tested if someone wants to pay.
If a woman in my family were raped I know I would move heaven and hell to have the kit tested.
I wouldn't hesitate a second to pay for it myself, and if I was poor I would borrow the money or sell the car -- whatever it took.
Money IS an issue --- it always is, especially in public service.
Republicans want to starve government and don't want to pay taxes and then complain when things like rape kits don't get processed.
The old old saying is almost always true " You get what you pay for ".
Until Arizonans are willing to pay the taxes to support a large enough lab to handle rape kits as they come in .. on a ' right now ' basis, those kits are going to remain untested.
So many right wingers see reason why they should pay taxes to process someone else's rape kit.
And then when it happens to one of theirs OH NO LETS RAISE HELL BECAUSE THE KITS AREN'T TESTED.
billrichardson posted at 9:56 am on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
There's over $100 million dollars in the state RICO fund. There's more than enough money sitting in the bank that's available to pay for sexual assault kit examinations and DNA testing. As for Tempe's backlog, they had $258,000 to repaint all if the police cars black and white and now they're paying for new police patches and badges. What's more important, pretty police cars/patches/badges or putting rapists in jail? Police departments have always found the money for their pet projects. Unfortunately many of the pet projects have nothing to do with catching criminals and making the community safer.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:06 am on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
OK, if all that money is indeed sitting there then you probably need to blame our Republican politicians for not passing whatever legislation is needed to transfer the money from the RICO fund to a fund to process not only rape kits but all kinds of evidence that doesn't get processed due to lack of funds / people to do the testing.
They can certainly manage to sweep / steal money from all kinds of other funds into the State's General Fund so they can spend it on private prisons and other lobbiest's wet dreams.
It would seem the Republican Legislators aren't particularly concerned, are they?
And you say that Tempe spent all that money on ( frivolous ? ) painting of the cars and now badges ... well that sounds to me like a complaint about the Police Chief -- it's his job to prioritize spending.
Apparently he isn't too worried about the rape kits. Vote him OUT.
Same for any other police chief that you can prove has money sitting in the bank and doesn't get kits tested.
I've always heard there is a large problem with not enough facilities and personnel to test the kits and other evidence anyway --- they have a huge backlog. Police want the kits tested but the lab just can't do it because they are so far behind.
It would require a MAJOR investment to build facilities that could handle everything with no backlog and the Republican dominated Legislature says NO NO NO NO NO.
RS NJP posted at 12:41 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
Hello Mr. Richardson,
Just finished reading your article about the rape kit backlog in your neck of the woods. I too am a retired detective (25 years with the NYPD, 17 of them investigating sex crimes.). Since my retirement, only a few months ago, I have teamed up with a wonderful and amazing young women and her organization to help eliminate the rape kit backlog nation wide. Please check us out at www.natashasjusticeproject.org and also on Facebook at Natasha's Justice Project. Maybe we can help each other out with this tragedy of justice.
On the web site look at our Backlog Elimination Project Request for Proposal, maybe there is a jurisdiction by you that you can let them know about this.
Sincerely,
Rich
Leon Ceniceros posted at 1:24 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
Folks, I have asked Mr. Richardson (he being a Mesa retired Master Police Officer) to give the readers of the East Valley Tribune the number of Mesa's rapists that have been prosecuted in the past 10 yeas.
Mesa Rapes; 2002 = 129, 2003 = 116, 2004 =124, 2005 = 194, 2006 = 203, 2007 = 175, 2008 = 161, 2009 = 123, 2010 = 124 >>>>>>....10 year Total Number of Rapes committed within the Jurisdiction of the Mesa Police Department = 1,480.
Ex-Master Sergeant.....were all 1,480 rapes investigated and the rapist brought to justice........were there 1,000 rapes investigated and the rapists brought to justice....were there 800 rapes investigated and the rapists brought to justice....were there 500 rapes investigated and the rapists brought to justice....were there 250 rapes investigated and the rapists brought to justice ????
WERE THERE ANY OF THE 1,480 RAPISTS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS INVESTIGATED AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE ???
YOU WERE A MASTER SERGEANT.....YOU SHOULD HAVE THESE STATISTICS AT YOUR FINGER TIPS.......WHY THE SILENCE, EX-MASTER SERGEANT......WHY THE SILENCE ??????
PCSO101 posted at 2:19 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
A true experienced police detective would surely realize that not ALL sexual assault kits can be sent to the lab for DNA testing. In fact, in accordance with established protocols, and State & Federal Statutes, a crime MUST first be clearly established pursuant to ARS Title #13 - before the DNA evidence can be submitted for testing. Cases which are unfounded, no crime established, e.g. consensual vs. non consensual, victim recants account, etc, can not be sent for testing as NO crime can be established. Similarly, there are Federal guidelines which clearly establish when DNA can be entered in to CODIS - which safeguards DNA from being entered into the system of a person whom may have in fact not committed a crime.
Also, "sex crime kits" are commonly used for more investigative purposes other than a sexual assault. In fact, any case in which a detective may wish to secure biological evidence, blood, hair, etc, he/she may wish to utilize this very kit to capture the evidence. Thus, the "sex assault kit" is impounded as evidence, however the actual case it was used for may contain evidence of a misdemeanor assault, child abuse, or a myriad of other crimes. The media inquiry failed to clearly distinguish ---- of the the number of cases NOT sent for testing, how may of the cases did not meet the established criteria, and/or did NOT involve a sexual assault?
Just saying BOYS, do some investigative fact finding and don't rely on the emotional, biased and tired work of a retired Mesa Police Master Officer - whom by the way has a significant hatred for some. Just saying BOYS............Luv ya PCSO 101
billrichardson posted at 2:53 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
PCSO101-
So is it wrong that the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Mesa PD, New York PD and Los Angeles test all of their sexual assault kits?
PCSO101 posted at 3:07 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
Master Officer Richardson, are you serious? MCSO failed to investigate over 400 sexual assault cases, and you you question the protocol of MCSO being wrong if testing all their cases....LOL! Really sir, you are truly not living up to your self proclaimed title of an esteemed Master Officer. I would encourage you to check your facts, and you will learn that Mesa, MCSO, PCSO in fact do not test ALL of their kits. If they did test ALL their kits, including those in which NO CRIME could be established, then yes, they would be WRONG, and in violation of various protocols and possibly State & Federal Law. By-Buy! Going to play for the weekend.
billrichardson posted at 3:30 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
Here are the numbers. Read about PCSO, MCSO and MPD.
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/abc15-investigation-uncovers-thousands-of-rape-kits-left-untested-by-valley-law-enforcement
billrichardson posted at 4:03 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
More good stuff from Mesa PD and what they're doing when it comes to fighting crime.
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20113747/2012/11/15/technologically-savvy-crime-lab-reducing-the-back-log-on-cold-cases
Leon Ceniceros posted at 4:35 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
Lol.............billrichardson......you can run but you can't hide.
Just like I thought....you have access to all of the Mesa Police Department's Crime Statistics.
Just tell the good readers of the East Valley Tribune....of the 1,480 Rapes that were reported to the F.B.I. and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.......how many have been solved ?
Do I need to curl my poor arthritic fingers over the keyboard once again and type out the "Yearly Reported Violent Crime Statistics" for the years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010....all over again for the 3rd or is it the 4th or the 5th time ???
SHOW US THE NUMBER OF RAPES THAT THE MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE SOLVED FOR THE ABOVE YEARS.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 4:46 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
P.S.......NOT HAVING A BA OR BS AFTER MY NAME, MUCH LESS A MA OR A PHD THAT MANY OF THE LIBERAL COMMENTERS (THE ANONYMOUS ONES....LOL) CLAIM TO HAVE AND ONLY ONE SEMESTER OF HIGH SCHOOL STATISTICS AND ONE SEMESTER OF JUNIOR COLLEGE SATISTICS UNDER MY BELT.....I FIND IT STRANGELY ...."PECULIAR".....THAT MANY OF THE YEARLY REPORTED RAPE STATISTICS SHOW NUMBERS THAT ARE ALMOST........."IDENTICAL".
2002 = 129
2003 = 116
2004 = 124
2009 = 123
2010 = 131
NOW WHAT WOULD THE............STATISTICAL PROBABILTY.....BE THAT THESE FIVE YEARS WOULD ONLY BE A FEW RAPES CASES > DIFFERENT FROM THE YEAR BEFORE OR THE YEAR AFTER....ALMOST LIKE THE EXACT NUMBER OF RAPISTS WERE RUNNING AROUND MESA....YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR..............MAYBE SOME ONE CAN ...........DO THE MATH !!!!
Rich posted at 10:27 pm on Fri, Nov 16, 2012.
Bill,
The police don't have the right to invade everyone. How many 'rape kits' are angry girlfriends? Policing has to involve a partnership, If we don't trust the police, they are essentially useless, and currently, with things like CODIS, they are essentially no one to trust. Technology does a lot, but the cop I know, who spends some time on my stoop, or my neighbors is worth a hundred times it. When you lose the fact that my gun will be joined by my neighborhood cops, you can't stop anything, and you're just a bunch of arrogant jerks who is as just as culpable as any rapist.
mwmike posted at 7:51 am on Sat, Nov 17, 2012.
billrichardson - What do our Tempe elected officials have to say about this. Heads should roll at the Tempe PD, all the way to the top.
mwmike posted at 7:56 am on Sat, Nov 17, 2012.
"Rich" can't be serious. Defending the police for this atrocity. AND carrying a gun. Sounds like HE belongs in jail.
billrichardson posted at 9:12 am on Sat, Nov 17, 2012.
mwmike,
I provided a copy of my column to the mayor and city council when it came out. As yet I haven't heard from them. I still haven't heard back from police chief Tom Ryff and city manager Charlie Meyer.
downtownresident posted at 10:54 am on Sat, Nov 17, 2012.
Rich,
I hope you don't live in my neighborhood.
You're saying that police should only investigate "legitimate" rapes?
Rich posted at 10:05 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
mwmike,
I don't own a gun, it's called a metaphor, ask the English teacher columnist here if you don't know what that is. Let me explain it to you. In an armed society, police are useless and corrupt if the average man doesn't add his gun ( or force) to that of the police. Police work best, in fact only work minimally well, when supported by the public. When they go processing rape kits from your annoyed girl friend, who is now sorry, and you start getting police attention because of DNA you left in a cab in Miami, the girl never trusts the police again, and you don't either. And we are all a bit less safe.
Engaged Voter posted at 11:33 am on Wed, Nov 21, 2012.
"I can say I never met a rapist who’d only raped one woman one time."
I have. He lives in Scottsdale. He was 17 and had a 15 year old girlfriend.
He was charged with rape and to this day has to register as a sex offender.
Oh and by the way, he has since married his "victim" and they have 3 beautiful children.