In 2010, four reported rapes were part of teen gatherings, one was spousal and ongoing since 2009, one was between an estranged husband and wife — a case in which charges were dropped, another was part of a full investigation that was rejected by the district attorney, and the last happened in 2008.
In 2009, three rapes involved teens younger than 18, one was an attempted rape and one was deemed a false report.
“None of them were stranger rapes,” said Sgt. Tony Sheneman, Tracy police spokesman. “All of the victims knew their attackers.”
Sheneman said single-digit rape totals have been the norm in recent years. The last time Tracy exceeded single-digit numbers for sexual assaults was in 2003, when there were 11 reports.
The nine reported rapes are the most since seven were reported in 2005.
And while not all reported rapes lead to arrests or investigations, not all rapes are reported to the police. Sometimes, other outfits are called.
Joelle Gomez, executive director of the Women’s Center of San Joaquin County, which helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, said the nonprofit often receives calls.
“The sad thing (is), when you’re dealing with sexual assaults, 90 percent of the victims do not report to law enforcement. There are lots of reasons why victims choose not to report — a lot of fear, a lot of shame, and also retaliation from the perpetrator,” said Gomez, who suggests that women who think they’ve been victims should go to the hospital, get a rape exam, have a report taken by police and get evidence collected.
“It’s hard to build a case around a he said-she said, with no witnesses, and little to no evidence.”
I agree with you AverageBri, zero tolerance is the standard that should be expected and not the "Stick Your Head In The Sand" attitude being crammed down the taxpayer's throats by a police department spokesman.
Now I'm sure the good sgt doesn't condone rape, as an acceptable crime, but the fact is that one rape is one to many. If you read this article the message the chief and sgt are sending is that as long as the number of rapes doesn't reach double digits it's OK.
Tell that to the victims who's rapes were reported. Then tell the victims of the other 90%, who's rapes went unreported, that they are to blame for not reporting the crime committed against them (NOT).
If you've read the blogs recently you know what I think about the unaddressed crime issues in Tracy. I'm tired of the continual attempts to put a positive spin on these things so the police chief, city manager, mayor and retired police captain turned councilman, don't have to deal with the issue of finding someone who can make Tracy safe again.
If you agree please do the same.
I'm sure the 4 extra people raped last year (compared to 2009) don't feel relieved that they were raped by someone they knew, opposed to a stranger.
I've never seen a police force, or city, try to put a silver lining on rape statistics, like they did in this article. One rape per year is too many, and it doesn't matter how or where it was committed, or who did it.
Zero tolerance, Chief Theissen. Stop making excuses for your failures.
Citizens become out numbered and afraid.
These are some very depressing stats. Tells me it is getting alot worse, especially when the police are trying to cover it up.
The true meaning of such statistics.