Robert Stanford For City Council District 4

The Struggles Of Advocacy

These pages are compiled of a series of articles that I have written in an attempt to promote understanding and solicit empathy for the plight of those that are less fortunate than we are.

In my attempts of changing my community for the better, I have had to learn the hard way - that it is true - some of the "old guard" that comprise what is loosely called the "leadership" of our local community maintain a strong hold on the prevention of positive growth and the nourishment of positive change. The old guard continues, as those that have gone before have set an example that this is the path to success in local politics and social action. I disagree.

To Report Or Not To Report
by
Robert Stanford

Many social issues are overwhelming to the general public – a public that looks to law enforcement and protective agencies for answers as to what can be done. And more often than not, the proposed solutions provided by these department and organizations are always the same, as they always have been. Report it if you see it. Report it if you hear about it. Report it if you suspect it. You can remain anonymous.

Through experience, many know that the consequences of reporting any crime, will more than likely provide a host of new problems, and in some instances even be fatal to the reporter.

When suspicion is based on another person’s relayed experience, there is another problem, in that local authorities may seem to be slow to respond. For it is through their own experience, ever so much vast than the common civilian’s, that without first hand knowledge from the reporter, more often than not, it is difficult to build a case which is useful for the actual intervention by law enforcement and/or protective agencies.

We are a country in which we, as citizens, are protected at all levels by inalienable rights, the most important of which, is the rights that allow us to be treated as innocent until proven guilty. Not just by a court of law, but also by ensuring us that intervention of our relationships, livelihoods and all other aspects of our lives are only conducted by way of sufficient probable cause.

Although the ambiguities of what constitutes probable cause is forever being argued and debated within our courts, for the purpose of this article, let us just say that there does indeed, in most law enforcement and protective agencies, exist – the expectation that probable cause is of primary consideration before attempting to develop any kind of a criminal case against and alleged predator.

Rumor and gossip can be dangerous things. Conclusions are often arrived at resulting from unfounded premises, stemming from biasness or multiple retellings of a situation that is often, in reality, much different than what was originally relayed. Stories, like gossip, are embellished, often by prejudices or pre-conceived notions. Ultimately, when finally reported, to an agency, many times the reporter will have never, so much as had contact with the individuals they are reporting about.

The unknown variable is the question of whether there is indeed a possible perpetrator and a resulting victim, who would be in distress and/or peril. So to report certainly is appropriate.

Many times after a citizen makes a report, no matter how close they are to the situation and are not residing in the domicile of the alleged victim, often they will be concerned that nothing is being done – primarily because they do not witness or receive any information pertaining to the steps taken during an investigation conducted by law enforcement or the protective agency. However, the agency or law enforcement department cannot, for the protection of all parties involved, including the alleged perpetrator, provide much if any feedback at all. For here, in the United States, on is to be treated as though they were innocent until proven guilty or having waived rights by pleading guilty or no contest in a court of law and being afforded all rights as guaranteed to them by our United States constitution.

The inspiration to write this article regarding this subject matter has come to me as the result of a complex and frustrating situation. One in which there arises several good examples of what an individual experiences when confronted with the civic question of whether to report suspected abuse or not.

Due to the fact that the situation is, at the time of this writing under investigation by local authorities, I am limited to what I can divulge regarding specifics of this particular case, however, as I have stated previously, there are those caveats of my recent experience, that though not unusual or surprising to me, they were surprising to several others present at various times during the unfolding of events that began as suspicion and pinnacled to direct attacks against me by the “alleged” perpetrator.

The resulting fallout of following through with reporting those things I was aware of (whether substantiated or not) left many with a clear understanding of how, if they were to do the same as I had done and reported suspicions, that their social status and ties as well as their own personal safety would be in certain jeaperdy. So severe, that I was the only one to report out of at least a dozen people that did not because of the intimidation they witnessed the alleged perpetrator direct at me.

Including the harsh treatment I continue to this day to encounter from several of the employees at a local Star Bucks (you know – they are all about Social Consciousness) as well as several regulars to that same establishment. The look that says to you – “You Dirty Snitch!”.

And other things have been said to me, as though I did something wrong by reporting my suspicions. Others see this and if another likewise situation arose, I am for certain that they would be quite reluctant to make a report. But if you too were a regular at this Star Buck’s Café and witnessed the same things these people have, you would be hesitant to report as well.

Before this particular incident, I would encourage people to report abuse if they suspected it, saw it, or experienced it. I still do, but now with a bit of a disclaimer

– “If you choose to report suspicious activity regarding child and/or adult abuse – watch your back!”