Police badges represent authority. But it's a dangerous line to walk when cops weaponize that authority and abuse their power. This happened to a 15-year-old rape victim, who was sexually assaulted by the New Orleans police officer sent to transport her to the hospital.
Bodycam footage captured Officer Rodney Vicknair grooming “Nicole.” When Nicole’s mother discovered a troubling photo of them together, the Independent Police Monitor contacted the police department. Still, Vicknair remained on duty and kept visiting Nicole. He eventually assaulted her. Four years later, Nicole and her mother sued the city. While serving a 14-year prison term, Vicknair died in January 2024.
The Washington Post identified 1,800 officers as child sexual abusers between 2005-2022. Even before the N.O.P.D. hired Vicknair, he had a conviction related to abusing children.
Justice for victims and survivors isn’t just tackling hundreds of thousands of rape kit backlogs or traumatic, costly testing. Public institutions allow sexual violence to thrive. This year alone, 500 women sued Chicago OB-GYN Fabio Ortega. One woman was even abused during her rape kit examination.
The dominant narrative is that we need policing to respond to violence. But when police consistently prey on the vulnerable, who can their victims turn to? They deserve not just to be heard, but to have better options.