Rape survivors, advocates demand reform after HPD sexual assault case suspensions
Sexual assault crisis center outraged by 4,000 uninvestigated cases
The Houston Area Women's Center expresses profound outrage and issues a passionate outcry for change following the revelation that more than four thousand sexual assault cases since 2016 were never investigated by the Houston Police Department. Emily Whitehurst, leading the charge, labels this systemic failure as a "public health crisis" and emphasizes the need for game-changing reform to prevent future victimization and enhance the treatment of survivors by law enforcement.
HOUSTON - The leader of Houston's principal rape crisis center is reacting powerfully to the revelation that more than 4,000 sexual assaults were never investigated by the Houston Police Department (HPD).
"We hope that you share with our frustration and outrage. If you are not uncomfortable at some point today, then you are not listening," said Emily Whitehurst with the Houston Area Women's Center.
BACKGROUND: "We owe them an apology" Houston Police reveal 4,017 sexual assault cases suspended over past 8 years
To underscore the depth and damage of the dereliction, HAWC extended unprecedented access to rape survivors like Sylvia Rodriguez who told FOX 26, failure to investigate amounts to a "green light" for rapists.
"It's going to tell the abuser what he tells his victim because I heard those voices all the time. I was told nobody believes you. Nobody cares. You can go to the police as many times as you want and they are not going to do anything," said Rodriguez.
MORE ON SUSPENDED CASES: HPD says over 260,000 criminal cases were suspended due to 'lack of personnel' over 8 years
An internal investigation by the HPD has shed light on a staggering reality: 4,017 sexual assault cases were suspended due to a "lack of personnel."
Survivor Emily Tippet says HPD's colossal failure is a confirmation of the "indifference" she felt from law enforcement after seeking accountability.
"It was almost exponentially traumatizing to not only experience that and to know that this is the right thing to do is to report and then to be treated as if you didn't matter, none of it mattered. For me and other women I have spoken to, they were immediately disappointed and that was a sense of betrayal," said Tippit.
Within this moment of acute awareness wrought by scandal, HAWC'S Whitehurst sees an opportunity for transformation, prevention, and healing.
"We intend to leverage the attention currently on HPD and direct it towards real solutions because this is so much bigger than HPD," said Whitehurst.
Whitehurst says she has spoken with HPD Chief Troy Finner and believes his pledge to investigate all sexual cases previously identified as suspended due to lack of manpower.