Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the 1938 version of “The Wizard of Oz”, Author dbking, Source http://flickr.com/photo/65193799@N00/234170351 (CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic)
WARNING: Graphic Images
Dorothy and Toto spent most of the beloved movie classic, “The Wizard of Oz”, trying to get back home to Kansas. But Kansas City has not been a safe place for children for years now.
An investigation by the Kansas City Star has disclosed that police abandoned many child rape and other cases of serious abuse against children [1]. Internal memoranda by the Kansas City Police Dept. describe 148 cases as reflecting gross investigatory negligence, and what can only be characterized as callous disregard on the part of investigating officers.
The Crimes Against Children Unit investigates around 1,000 cases annually. Last summer, prosecutors were unable to proceed on a case it had taken over a year to investigate. Several hundred cases in the Unit were found to be six months old or older.
A Special Response Team was formed in September 2015 to clear these backlogged cases. Half the cases over six months old were found to have been insufficiently investigated. Fifty involving rape, broken bones, and near starvation languished for over a year.
These included cases where:
- a 4 y.o. rape victim was infected with a sexually transmitted disease;
- 4 y.o. and 5 y.o. malnourished children were sodomized by a known sex offender who was, also, a household member; and
- a 12 y.o. runaway was raped by three men, one of whom she was actually able to identify.
Irregularities were uncovered so severe that nearly all the detectives and sergeants of the Crimes Against Children Unit were suspended.
Dozens of cases that could have been successfully resolved were simply closed (apparently so that the Special Response Team would not examine them). Some suspects were never questioned at all.
What evidence did exist was mishandled. Cell phones, victim interviews, and at least one gun were left lying casually around, for months or years, often without identifying information.
This widespread investigatory failure handicapped prosecutors, and undercut the efforts of medical personnel, social workers, and child interviewers to protect children. Worst of all, it exposed vulnerable children to continued abuse.
But the problem had been surfaced to police commanders as early as 2011. Despite that, the request for an additional sergeant to assist the Crimes Against Children Unit went unfilled for a year.
A Quality Control Unit has since been established. This is reviewing tens of thousands of cases to assure that they were properly handled. An Internal Affairs investigation is under way. Meanwhile, the suspended officers have been reinstated, but transferred to Patrol Units.
“...[I]t is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matt. 18: 14).
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[1] Kansas City Star, “KCPD failed to investigate child sex, abuse cases, documents reveal” by Glenn Rice, Donna McGuire, and Ian Cummings, 9/15/16, http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article101962597.html.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Beyond belief.
Why do the people in charge
not care anymore?
These are children for God’s sake.
I don’t know what to say. In the face of this, it is easy to despair.
I don’t know what to say either. But the three cases you have mentioned have touched my heart. I am so sorry that these little ones have had to endure these depraved acts. May God heal their hearts, minds and bodies. When we don’t know what to say, then we must pray.
Thank you for so compassionate a response, Marie. Yes, you’re right. God can do what we cannot. ❤
It is Indeed as You say, my Dear Anna. In fact, I could not read beyond the first few paragraphs. I have found that I am getting very low.
As for Despair, one of the favourite tricks of the devil, in recent days the Lord has reminded me, once again, that ‘The Battle Belongs to the Lord.’
Provided We have taken steps to the Best of Our Ability, (I think We can Safely say that You and I have), We can even sit back and Relax.
HE Will do it, and We shall Even be able to Watch it Happen.
Love and Peace. 🙂
I am sorry to have distressed you, Swami. I fall victim to despair, as well. Many of these situations are horrific. But, as you say, God is able even when we are not.
With love,
Your friend A. ❤
But when did You distress me, my Dear Anna! It is the situation that does it, and You, Your site and Your visits and comments Act as Tonic on me!
And Happily, these very situations bring Us back to the Good Lord!
Love to You, too, my Friend! 🙂
And love to you, my Friend. 🙂
🙂
What makes this information so chilling is that is is no doubt the tip of the iceberg. Police departments all across America are having to make do with fewer and fewer resources. Manpower rosters are cut because income revenue streams are woefully inadequate for the task at hand. In addition, the numbers of social workers needed to do the necessary investigative work required by our legal system is far beyond what municipalities can afford.
Not making any excuses for anyone here,for certainly there are none,but another part of the problem is the sheer volume of cases that need to be investigated. Every single day there are more news reports of yet another heinous act perpetrated upon innocent children.
Another thing to think about is what criteria is used to determine which case gets investigated and which one get tossed in a box to be forgotten about? Does race,nationality or income come into play? Someone’s last name?
Perhaps most frightening of all is this sobering thought: if we are to believe scripture then we know that it’s going to get continually worse. History is clear that here in America dollars and programs are no match against the wickedness at work here. Are we defenseless to stop this?
I for one feel helpless to do anything meaningful to stem the vicious onslaught against children. Even the offering of prayer seems insignificant in light of this epidemic of evil.
Apologies for the long winded comment Anna,but as you know this is a subject very close to my heart. Thank you for the courage to bring these difficult subjects to light.
You are never long-winded, Ron, and always welcome to speak your mind. Whether we are in the end times, I cannot say. Scripture seems to point in that direction. If nothing else, however, it feels as if we are moving into a dark age.
I do understand what you are saying about even the offering of prayer seeming insignificant in the light of this epidemic of evil. It is easy to despair as the author says. However we have been given a vital tool: prayer.
“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” – Thess 5: 17,18
“Be anxious over nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Phil 4 v6
Jesus prayed continually. He prayed before being crucified. I don’t think prayer can ever be viewed as insignificant in any situation. This evil requires strong prayer.
I think it may have been CS Lewis who said it. But if Satan cannot persuade us to do evil, he seeks to discourage us from doing good. That is the danger of despair. Despair immobilizes us.
I agree w/ you, Marie, that prayer is a powerful tool against darkness. It is powerful because God is powerful. Absorbed by our own inadequacies, we are blinded to that.
Thank you for the reminder, dear friend. ❤
You are most welcome, dear Anna. I had not heard that quote before, so thank you for that.
Heart breaking! Devastating for these children. Devastating for the whole nation and it’s future. May God intervene for these children.
That is my prayer, as well, Debbie.
I’m appalled–and glad the officers were suspended. My concern is not just for the initial suffering of soul-searing abuse, but also for the increased long-term damage that results when these children realize they don’t matter–that hurts as deeply as the first physical wounds of rape and hunger, neglect. Neglect, and all it entails, breeds severe emotional illness–I know.
The feeling of insignificance is, I think, a critical aspect of abuse. It is devastating to think we are valued less than the dirt on someone’s shoes. How could that not impact the mind and heart?
I do, however, believe God can overcome even that grievous wound.
Thank you for speaking out, Delyn. ❤
You are right, nothing is impossible with God–and He is showing me that I am not insignificant to Him 🙂
Not insignificant at all, Delyn.
Thank you, Anna–Blessings and Love to you 🙂
Ditto, Delyn. ❤