A school cop was accused of sexual misconduct with kids. He kept his job for years.

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the issue of sexual misconduct by school resource officers (SROs) in the United States. It focuses on the case of a school resource officer named Bradley who was accused of sexually assaulting multiple female students at Spring Valley High School in South Carolina. The article highlights how the school district and law enforcement failed to properly investigate and address the allegations against Bradley, allowing him to continue working as an SRO and allegedly abuse more students. The article also examines the broader problem of sexual abuse by SROs across the country and the lack of policies and training to prevent such misconduct.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Case of Deputy Bradley

1. What were the key allegations against Deputy Bradley?

• Deputy Bradley was accused of sexually assaulting multiple female students at Spring Valley High School, including Dianah, Jennifer, Jade, and Kay.
• The allegations included groping, inappropriate touching, and in some cases, sexual intercourse between Bradley and the students.
• The school district and sheriff's department were aware of prior complaints about Bradley's inappropriate behavior with students but failed to properly investigate or take action.

2. How did the school district and law enforcement respond to the allegations against Bradley?

• Despite multiple complaints, the school district and sheriff's department did not thoroughly investigate the allegations against Bradley or remove him from his position as a school resource officer.
• When Dianah reported the sexual assault, the sheriff's department initially decided not to arrest Bradley or remove him from the school, and he was allowed to return to Spring Valley High.
• It was not until another student, Kay, came forward with an allegation in 2019 that Bradley was finally arrested and charged with criminal sexual conduct.

3. What were the long-term impacts on the victims?

• The victims, such as Jennifer and Kay, experienced lasting trauma and disruption to their lives due to Bradley's actions and the failure of the authorities to properly address the allegations.
• Some victims, like Jennifer, felt harassed by the sheriff's department when they tried to come forward with their stories.
• The victims expressed frustration that Bradley may receive a plea deal with minimal consequences, despite the sheriff calling him a "sexual predator."

[02] The Broader Issue of Sexual Misconduct by School Resource Officers

1. What are the key problems identified with the oversight and training of school resource officers?

• Many states allow school resource officers to work in schools before receiving specialized training, and there are often no clear policies or guidelines on appropriate boundaries between officers and students.
• School districts and law enforcement agencies frequently fail to properly investigate and address complaints of sexual misconduct by school resource officers.
• The Justice Department, which has provided funding for school police programs, has not issued guidance to law enforcement on preventing sexual abuse by school resource officers.

2. How prevalent is the issue of sexual misconduct by school resource officers?

• The article states that The Washington Post identified more than 200 school resource officers who were charged with crimes involving child sexual abuse from 2005 to 2022.
• Many of these officers had faced prior complaints of inappropriate behavior with students, but the issues were often downplayed or not thoroughly investigated.

3. What are the challenges in addressing sexual misconduct by school resource officers?

• The complicated arrangement between school districts and law enforcement agencies can make it difficult to investigate and discipline officers, as school administrators may not have authority over the officers assigned to their campuses.
• The lack of clear policies and training on appropriate boundaries between officers and students creates an environment where predatory behavior can go unchecked.
• The article suggests that the issue of sexual abuse by school resource officers has been largely ignored in the broader debate around the presence of police in schools.