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Attorney for Rollins’ Victims Said APD Knew About Serial RapesAlleges police department did nothing to stop attacks“Blame the victim – that's what they said in every single case.” Schleuss said it's clear the municipality could have and should have stopped Rollins sooner. On February 23, 2011, KTVA asked Police Chief Mark Mew when APD was first made aware Rollins was having sex on the job. Mew answered he could not give a specific date, but it was in the mid-2000s. According to a search warrant, though, it was earlier than that – in 2001, when police investigated a rumor that a black APD officer received oral sex from a woman in the hall of a Russian Jack apartment. That investigation determined the officer was Anthony Rollins. Regardless of the exact timelines, APD knew there was a problem with Officer Rollins and, for five years, Schleuss said, did nothing about it except to watch him. “They had two search warrants on this guy to track his car. They had one in 2003, 2004, and they had another one in the summer of 2008,” Schleuss said. During that time at least one of Rollins' supervisors tried to dismiss him, telling superiors, "He needs to be out of there. He cannot be in a unit where he's not supervised." But Rollins remained on the job, and even had a year-long affair during his shifts with a married woman from his church that he said was consensual. An internal affairs investigation found his conduct ”unbecoming of an officer,” but still he stayed on the job. APD said Rollins had other problems that were investigated but never prosecuted. On February 23, 2011, Chief Mew said, “There was a previous allegation that was also investigated. We couldn't make a criminal case out of that and he was disciplined for that. It's a personnel matter and they won't let me tell you, but I’ll tell you it was severe.” Schleuss said, “Getting the records from CourtView showed that year, Rollins' salary was $150,000. Doesn't sound like discipline to me.” Schleuss is convinced there were many other incidents since Rollins joined the department in 1996, but the municipality, she said, isn't cooperating by giving her the information she needs. “For example, I’ll have a computer printout that said: IA see internal affairs, see the IA file, see the case file – there’s no case file, pieces are missing. They're just missing,” Schleuss said. It’s now Schleuss's mission to fill in the gaps. Meanwhile, there are dozens of women who will think twice before calling the police for help. Eleven separate civil lawsuits have been filed against the municipality, APD and Rollins. |
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angelonmyshoulder said on Friday, Apr 13 at 10:36 PM
In AK. alcohol offenders are required to have a red stripe on their I.D or license so that all will know that they cannot buy or possess booze. How about a similar (black) stripe for sex offenders? Every time they show I.D.---cashing a check, buying booze, stopped by cop, etc.---they will be known as a sex offender. It would be a deterrent. Also those around the offender would know and be able to warn others, example: the waitress in the bar could warn you that the person hitting on you is a sex offender, or when they get involved in say the PTA, they would know...recidvisim amongst sex offenders is what...90%... they currently have to register on a website, so this would not infringe on civil liberties I think. I have thought about this alot, some one out there please begin the process to make this a law. I don't know how or I would.
87543415Anonymous said on Monday, Mar 26 at 1:42 PM
im not surprised by any of this... it is disgusting that any of the women are being blamed for the rapes, but isnt that old news? that's why so many sexual assaults go unreported, who wants to go through something so horrible and then have to 'defend' their entire lives because someone raped them? Regardless of what these womens past is... NO ONE deserves to be raped. But ofcourse the attorneys for the muni will try and cast shadows and do what ever they have to to fight a law suit... its their jobs to do just that, its a shame that the value of money comes before the values of people.
85636905Alaskan said on Monday, Mar 26 at 11:55 AM
Ive seen and heard the Anch.P.D violate peoples rights both civil and constitutional; A military veteran gave me a first hand account of a APD officer who took aside and searched an african american in fairview. The veteran friend,from his apt. window,witnessed the officer take from this person, his drugs and cash, and left him his gun and went on his way. Leaving the drug dealer to go about his business and such.
85627286Anonymous said on Friday, Mar 23 at 11:13 PM
the ABI is just as bad. there is a child rape case in the valley that Palmer DA ignored due to politics. so it does happen. all the time. that is what the court system is for. nothing like telling a judge about it. they will not be happy campers. and then if they are in the mood, they will pull a judge judy and say this is we do it. that is how the clean up begins in the police and law departments of alaska. worst in the nation.
85442604Anonymous said on Friday, Mar 23 at 11:17 AM
So who is responsible to protect these women the police and who do they work for!!wheeler is an idiot!!
85393306l said on Friday, Mar 23 at 10:54 AM
If this occurs in pd's then what of those other officers that could be a threat to communities should tests be conducted by the federal government to see who qualifies for persons representing communities especially in the law enforcement as if there is criminals in those fields then I would think he isnt the only one
85390913Spartacus said on Friday, Mar 23 at 10:53 AM
It's a shame to see the Municipality of Anchorage blaming rape victims for their attack. While that is typical in rape cases, it's still a shame. I would say that Denis Wheeler, and his boss, Dan Sullivan, should be ashamed of themselves. But clearly neither of them has a scrap of shame.
85390736Bob said on Friday, Mar 23 at 10:25 AM
This is exactly why people hate attorneys and they are single-handed ruining our justice system: "n court documents, the municipality states it “did not have a legal duty to protect” the women from Rollins. The municipal attorney's office goes on to say the women's “injuries, if any, are the result of pre-existing conditions.” It also said the women “failed to mitigate damages.” This police-officer was a predator, sickophant, and evil. Send him to jail for life. There he can sit and think about the women who did not " mitigate." I hope they get hundreds of millions of dollars. And yes, it is the public right to know. Not "tried in the media." As for the hired-gun attorney, who will sling-at-all cost defense for APD and the municipality; Don't let the truth get in the way of the defense, eh ? Hope they get tons of money. That is how we punish these days. And throw away the key. You have disgraced us all, as law enforcement.
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