Voices from the Flats – Why I’m following the trial of alleged serial rapist Anthony Rollins
Mudflats readers may remember coverage of the rally organized by STAR (Standing Together Against Rape) organized a little over a year ago, to support survivors and to protest the release to house arrest of police officer and accused serial rapist, Anthony Rollins.
Mel Green has been blogging the trial, and aggregating the reports on Twitter of journalists following along from the courtroom. Green is the writer of the blog Henkimaa, and also writes for Bent Alaska.
By Mel Green
~Boney Courthouse, Alaska Court System (photo taken 11 Sep 2010)
Anthony Rollins: he’s the suspended Anchorage Police Department officer on trial right now in Anchorage Superior Court, accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, over a 3-year period, while he was on duty — in uniform, using his patrol car and police substations to effect his (alleged) crimes. Anyone who’s been following me on Facebook or Twitter knows that I’ve been following the Twitter feed of (especially) KTVA news reporter Grace Jang, who has livetweeted four of the five days of the the trial so far.
A Facebook friend of mine asked me yesterday why I had such a strong interest in the Rollins trial. Here’s my answer.
I’ve never been a victim of sexual assault myself, or any other sexual predation, though of course I have friends & acquaintances who have.
My particular interest in this case started in late 2009 when I read reports via the local liberal blogosphere about the massing of Rollins’ supporters — mainly from his church — at hearings taking place at the courthouse, such that (alleged) victims & their families could barely get into the courthouse. I wrote a blog post at the time called “How to be a friend to an accused serial rapist” which focused on one of my interests in cases like this: how people who really love/care about an (alleged or actual) offender should show that love/care. Should they just take the accused person’s protestations of innocence at face value? Or should they weigh the evidence & help the accused person, if actually guilty, face the guilt & its consequences? (Which is what I say they should do.)
Bigtime thorny ethical question that we see zillions of examples of all the time, & frequently (as now) attended by claims about the accused person’s religious faith. On Monday, according to Grace Jang’s tweets from the courtroom, an Internal Affair investigator testified about finding gold-wrapped condoms, Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) printouts (i.e., criminal records), a previously unknown-to-his-superiors cellphone, containers of (partly consumed) liquor, & other suspicious evidence in Rollins’ patrol car. Questioning the IA officer, Rollins’ defense attorney elicited the admission that Internal Affairs had also found a Bible in his car.
Sure. A Bible in his patrol unit, and Rollins’ profession of faith as a Christian, are just bound to establish his innocence, or to wipe away all his (alleged) crimes, just as assertion of Christian faith did (in the eyes of some) for, say, disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker — to name but one example of past use of this rubbish argument.
My undergrad degree is a B.A. in Religion, & I’m still very interested in how religious ideologies as opposed to real religion skew people’s thinking & behavior about all kinds of stuff. The religious ideology that says “he’s a Christian, that makes him innocent” or “he’s a Christian, his offenses have been washed away” is one such skew.
God’s mercy and compassion towards sinners is one thing; and indeed may Rollins receive such mercy and compassion, for the sake of his spirit & soul. But I daresay God’s compassion is also for the victims of crimes such as those alleged here. I daresay God’s concern is not only for the individual salvation or redemption of one sinner, but also with reconciling people who have become alienated from each other through wrongs they have committed against each other. God’s concern, as it should be our concern regardless of our individual faith, is to restore the relationships that have been damaged & sometimes even destroyed by crime.
If Rollins indeed committed these crimes against these women, it is to them he needs to make apology and from whom he must seek forgiveness; and likewise he bears responsibility towards the rest of us: the community he took an oath to protect and defend, only to violate that oath and duty and to betray the victims, the men and women with whom he served, and the whole of the Anchorage community. Repentance and redemption come not through hiding behind Bible and cross, or whatever the signs of one’s faith might be. Repentance and redemption come with honest and unshirking admission of one’s wrongs to the people one has wronged — not only in private confession to one’s God — and a willingness to bear the consequences for those wrongs. Otherwise, all professions of faith are just words and posturing and spiritual vacancy. No matter what religion Rollins claims to follow, no matter what book rode in his unit within feet or inches of his gold-wrapped condoms, his bottles of liquor, and the notebook containing the phone number of one of his victims.
Oh yeah. Alleged victims. Right.
Aside from that, this trial is a trial under Alaska law before a Superior Court judge of the Alaska Court System, not before the judgment seat of a Christian God as understood by a particular church or a particular believer.
Another of my interests in this case is that after 20 years as a staff member at the UAA Justice Center (though not myself a “justice professional”), I think a lot lot lot about what “justice” really is, & how we bring it about (or don’t); how we could improve the say we “do” justice, how we address (or don’t) abuses of authority, & so on. This has made its way a lot into my writing, both poetry & fiction I’m working on… & being a storymaker, its pretty instructive to watch watch particular stories unfold.
I didn’t write to my friend, but should add here, that opening arguments in Rollins’ trial took place just the day after data from the 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey were presented at a joint meeting of the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Health and Social Services Committee, and on the same day that a whole lot of stories about the data appeared in the media. You can get links to media coverage in the UAA Justice Center blog post about the presentation (a blog post which, guess what, I prepared), and also watch the full briefing before the legislators on video presented by Gavel to Gavel Alaska. (See the UAA Justice Center’s website for results of other research on violence against women in Alaska.)
Summary of lifetime estimates of victimization by intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence of Alaska female respondents, from the 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey.
The upshot is this: women are victimized by intimate partner violence and sexual violence at much higher levels than anyone has really understood before — even though we’ve known for a very long time that Alaska consistently the highest rate of forcible rape reported to law enforcement in the U.S. Why did we not understand just how truly awful the situation was (& is)? Because most women victimized by sexual & domestic violence — & arguably most men so victimized too, though for reasons discussed in the presentation only women could be included in this survey — do not report their victimization to police.
The abuse of authority alleged in the case of former APD officer Anthony Rollins in pursuit of his alleged crimes is one reason why. As some of the alleged victims have already testified, they felt intimidated because of his uniform and the power he held as a police officer, and didn’t trust other police to help them if they did report.
Which is all the more reason to ensure that, if Anthony Rollins is guilty of the crimes he is being tried for, that he be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. He was a sworn officer of the law whose uniform and shield represented his oath to protect — not to abuse and violate. Unless we can trust police and the courts to bring offenders to justice, there’s little chance that we’ll be able to stem the tide of sexual and domestic violence in Alaska.
~APD officers and cars at the Performing Arts Center, downtown Anchorage, Feb 2010. May the discredit Anthony Rollins has brought to them & to the Anchorage Police Department be removed. I for one believe that 99% of Anchorage police are damn fine people and a credit to the uniform.
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To follow links and tweets of the trial, and Mel Green’s other posts, go to Henkimaa.
I watched the closing arguments in the Rollins rape trial. The defense ($ public defender $) “Mr. Rollins sinned when he broke his marriage vows. That may cost him his marriage. Mr. Rollins sinned when he broke his oath of office. That did cost him his profession.”…..gag….
And now that his “sins” are in the hands of the jury, I for one, hope that it costs him his freedom.
Thanks for this article, Mel.
This sad excuse for a man has some serious problems with the truth, his memory and/or is delusional.’ I don’t remember’ is utterly pathetic but predictable. If he is so vain to believe all these women are interested in him, then his sexual obsession took up the major part of his time.
Trial update on Thursday, 10 February: Rollins cross-examination continued, followed by the state calling back to the stand an APD officer who clarified on proper police procedure on how DUI’s are booked & processed, the proper use of APSIN (Alaska Public Safety Information Network) record checks, etc. Judge Volland then told the jury he needed to meet with counsel (both defense & prosecution) on jury instructions. Final arguments will be heard on Monday, 14 February. 14 jurors have sat through the trial; 2 will be dismissed and deliberations will begin with 12 jurors on Monday after final arguments.
thank you for another informative writing. My heart goes out to all the victims . Hopefully justice will be served.
Mel (and AKM) — you will keep posting the reports from the trial on this thread? Through its conclusion? Please? thanks. beth.
My post about yesterday’s stuff is here: The Daily Tweets 2011-02-09: Rollins trial, day 10 — Rollins takes stand. Right now I’m watching tweets from today — Rollins is being cross-examined some more.
Good article with lots of important points to ponder.
It certainly reminds us of how incredibly complicated the repercussions of rape are and how damaging it is to the interwoven nature of our social fabric.
It is stunning to occasionally realize that in any group of ten women anywhere form 2 to 8 have been victims or at least one rape. (statistics vary widely but average out at 40 – 50% and as high as 80%..)
That is a breathtaking population of victims of violent crime, and it cannot help but have an enormous and incalculable negative impact on every aspect of our society. It is the burden of the Albatross to the Ancient Mariner, a burden from which we cannot escape.
I don’t think any of us know what his church fellowship may be thinking now. The time referenced when people from his church packed the courtroom was some time ago. I do know that since such a proportionately larger number of African American men are incarcerated, that a church turning out to support someone they know is not to be seen in the same context as it would be if we were talking about a white church. If redemption is not a possibility, lots of families will have to give up on family members, just by virtue of the numbers. That does not mean that justice should not be served.
What a very well written post Mel.It came out a just the right time.My daughter had been raped a few months ago by a casual acquaintance.Thank God the hospital she went to did give her the morning after pill,just in case and also antibiotics for what he had given her.With what the GOP has been trying to do this might not have been possible.
jojobo1: My heart goes out to you and your daughter. Acquaintance rape happens more than we realize. Happened to my little sister. You are right about the morning after pill becoming impossible if the GOP has its way with us.
Young women need to realize just how much they have to lose if they do not start speaking up.
I am old enough to remember the wire coat hanger solution days. NEVER AGAIN!
Of course, “good women” had the “D & C” white out solution. They would never have an abortion.
Whatever repentance that man experiences is between him and whatever god he believes in, and is none of the general public’s business.
However, all religions follow a basic set of ethical rules that, for the most part, coincide with secular law. You may ask and be granted forgiveness for breaking the rules, but that doesn’t mean that you are automatically pardoned from the consequences of your actions. While rape is a reprehensible crime to begin with, using the power of a police uniform makes it even more heinous.
On a brighter note, the police force in my town suffered several devastating blows last year when the chief was indicted for official misconduct and falsifying business records, along with several of his officers. There was a tinge of corruption in the whole department and morale was at an all time low. However, a new chief was appointed one year ago and the department has made a remarkable recovery. The bad officers were weeded out and the chief made it very clear that he was not going to tolerate any unethical behavior. In just a year, the morale has improved and the officers, and the town they protect, have confidence in the department again. I am sure that the Anchorage PD can ultimately survive this crisis and, hopefully, become stronger for it.
I was upset yesterday about the hot sauce abuse towards that little boy. Is that household conservative Christian? Some of the worst abuse comes from those homes.
ks sunflower–I love reading your posts–keep em’ coming! The GOP was so worried about the deficit and jobs–and now they are in there stewing around about rape and abortion. Give me a frigin’ break!
Great post…makes one think a lot. This is why I love Mudflats. Nite all.
Thank you for the great post, Mel.
I believe no thinking person in Alaska can really be surprised by the support this guy has.
After all, who had a two week stint as chief law enforcement officer at a cost of $10,000.00 to Alaskans, than Mr.” “They will not find evidence of that in MY File” Christianist holier than thou, there are rules but they do not apply to me, and if you break them you are going straight to hell, with a stopover at the greybar hotel feelem up” Kopp?
Even in the face of a LETTER showing he was lying, his supporters still rallied around Kopp.
Once again, there is a serious lack of critical thinking on the part of Rollins’ supporters. Maybe there can be a prayer group about it.
Check out Rachel Madow and her Wyoming post.
Isn’t all rape “forcible rape”?
Yes.
A note about that term forcible rape: Though I don’t believe the term has any statutory meaning, it is the term used by the FBI in its annual Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) of crime reported to law enforcement, published annually under the title Crime in the United States. The UCR defines forcible rape as “the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will” and it’s the only type of sexual assault that the FBI’s UCR stats counts.
Or, more specifically (as shown on slide 3 of the “2010 Alaska Victimization Survey: Report to the Alaska State Legislature” that I refer to in the blog post), limitations on UCR stats include:
• Not all police agencies participate in the UCR program.
• These statistics only include rapes reported to police. (Which is why the 2010 Alaska Victimization Survey is important: most victims don’t report their victimizations to the police. Rollin’s case shows some examples of that: 5 of the 6 victims in the case were found through police investigation only after “Victim 1” went to Standing Together Against Rape & STAR reported her case to APD.)
UCR statistics exclude:
• Statutory rapes;
• Incapacitated rapes (i.e., victim was drunk, drugged, unconscious);
• Rapes with male victims;
• Other sex offenses;
• Rapes with more serious offenses (e.g., homicide) (because UCR only collects stats on the most serious of the offenses when more than one offense in the same incident is reported.
I don’t know how much Republicans wanting to use the term forcible rape are depending on their limited understanding of UCR stats & the definition it uses. But for all I know, they might intentionally want to exclude Rohypnol- and alcohol-enabled “incapacitated” rapes & others exluded in the FBI’s definition.
IMHO, the bottom line is: the GOP wants to exclude *all* abortions in *all* circumstances. Period. Including the term “forcible rape” in the bill’s language is one more step towards their 100% -elimination goal. Fick sucks. beth.
Thank you for the amazing post, and all the chilling and informative follow-ups. The comments, too, remind me of why I keep coming back to The ‘Flats. Thanks all.
As weak as it sounds, I hope the victims are all able to find peace someday. I’m heartsick.
Oops – just couldn’t stay away because this is a post loosely related to breaking promises.
This is OT, but it is a topic dear to most of us. Just found this: the GOP still has not removed “forcible rape” language from that funding bill as promised last week. Amazing – or is it? It is the new GOP, after all.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/09/abortion-forcible-rape-language-hr-3_n_820846.html
What makes this all the more dangerous is that the House is considering a bill that would allow medical practitioners and hospitals to deny treatment to women seeking abortions (often due to rape, incest or health crises).
Goodness me, being female is this society is a constant struggle. Just when you think we’ve attained some sort of enlightened equality and era of respect, you have officers charged with raping those in his care or custody and politicians trying to yank us back several centuries. What next, GOP? Are you going to recommend stoning or caning?
Okay – NOW, I am signing off. Much to hot to be allowed to comment further. I myself, truly and sincerely apologize for allowing myself to go on and on. At least if you disagree or are tired of seeing my moniker pop up can simply not pay attention, eh? (But a figurative pox on those backward GOP politicians.)
I’m with ya on that one ks sunflower I could not believe that when I read it after they tried to claim they took it out.Did they think we would not see it..
Trial recessed just before 1:00 PM Alaska time & will continue tomorrow. The D.A. questioned Rollins about three so far of his accusers. I tell you that it’s pretty hard just to read the tweets; I can’t imagine how much harder it must have been for victims & their family members to sit in court & listen to Rollins claim that he took a 24-year-old DUI suspect in pajamas in handcuffs to a police substation, calling her mother to let her know where he was, & then proceeding to have sex with her from behind — where he was the one to pull down her pants — was “consensual” & was “invited” by her.
That’s the kind of stuff people have been hearing him say today.
D.A. also questioned him about how many women he’s had sex with outside marriage since he married his wife (also an APD officer) in 1987. “I don’t know. More than once.” He apparently regards his contacts with these young women who were under his police authority as being “affairs.”
One’s gorge rises.
Yes. That sounds horrific. That was rape.
Is there a book certifiably large enough to throw at this [half-dozen expletives deleted] essohbee? beth.
“I made marriage vows almost 40 years ago and though I am not affiliated with any religion, I took (and still) take them seriously. It seemed sacred to me that I was pledging fidelity to the person I loved and that person trusted me with his heart and life to keep those promises. I don’t go around with a Bible in my car or attend any church, but I vows are vows are vows. They, to me, are a matter of love and love is a sacred gift, a mystery worthy to be cherished.”
ks sunflower, you made me smile. That was beautifully said. I don’t pretend to have an “idill” marriage…I have problems just like anyone else – none of us are perfect. But by and large, it is not too bad at all. Except for the times that he drives me beserk. 🙂
And I drive him beserk.
Apart from that, it is good. 🙂
Those moments of driving each other berserk are part of the fun, right? Thankfully, most of us don’t drive each other berserk at the same time – maybe that’s the key. 🙂
APD needs to change its procedures. How is it that a male police officer can be alone with a female suspect in a police station? Male doctors don’t examine female patients without a third person present. Not because we think most doctors are rapists, but because it is a simple, common sense precaution against bad acts by the doctor or false accusations by the patients.
Great point well-stated, John.
Probably for reasons of staffing power, John, there isn’t that requirement — it would be nigh on to impossible to have that many female chaperones around to keep an eye on male officers and their female detainees. And, as our ks sunflower (and others) have so precisely pointed out, Anthony Rollins is a police officer — he had sworn to uphold the law! Other than spouses, clergy, politicians swearing to uphold certain, inviolate standards, why should it cross anyone’s mind that he would abuse that trust? Oh, wait… beth.
Ok, maybe I am being a bit simplistic. But if you call yourself a christian, you do not rape women numerous times and then ask for forgiveness. It doesn’t work like that.
Obviously if these women brought charges against him, they felt violated. He should be asking for their forgiveness.
None of the christian men I know would behave this way. I do not believe this man is a Christian. I believe he is an imposter and a liar. He will not ask for forgiveness because he believes he did nothing wrong.
I agree with you. I hope I’m saying this right…here in Ireland most people are Catholic, Protestants would be the second largest religion and lately we have more Muslims and people of different faiths, and a whole lot of atheists.
My point is, if anyone here committed those same acts – there is no way your religion or your faith would be taken into account. It would just not factor into it. People wouldn’t support you because you were of the same faith.
I could however see people supporting him simply because he was a member of the police force and they weren’t willing to admit that someone in his position would do this.
I agree with both of you, Irishgirl and fishingmama.
In addition, I wonder if the man understands that adultery has been regarded as crime in many jurisdictions and as grounds to nullify prenups in some. As a police officer, he should be at least vaguely aware of the legal consequences of adultery.
Beyond that, and because he wears his Christian affiliation as a badge of honor, I’d think he be more than just sorry about betraying his marriage vows. Aren’t those considered sacraments? It’s been a while, but I remember from studying Catholicism that the two Sacraments of Vocation are holy orders and marriage, neither of which are to be taken lightly though holy orders were regarded as permanent seal upon one’s soul. Even Protestant churches proclaim “until death do you part” which seems to me as indicating this is not a vow you should mess up and then expect no spiritual consequences to follow.
How he (and others, particularly prominent politicians) can so lightly announce that “yes, indeed I did was wrong” and disrespectful and an act of betrayal to my wife as if it were just, oh-I-don’t-know like running a stop sign or something, is a total mystery to me. Either you make vows in faith or you go through the motions.
I made marriage vows almost 40 years ago and though I am not affiliated with any religion, I took (and still) take them seriously. It seemed sacred to me that I was pledging fidelity to the person I loved and that person trusted me with his heart and life to keep those promises. I don’t go around with a Bible in my car or attend any church, but I vows are vows are vows. They, to me, are a matter of love and love is a sacred gift, a mystery worthy to be cherished.
Sorry to get up on a soap box, but reading Mel’s comments on how this man is trying to play upon the concept of Christian forgiveness to get out of or to lessen his punishment for grievous wrongs raises my hackles. The man did not care enough to honor his vows, and then went on to repeatedly dishonor them, himself, his wife, his faith and cause untold damage to others – this man has no honor and his sincerity in confessing his sins should be deeply suspect. He strikes me as deeply disturbed and untrustworthy individual. Perhaps only his God is magnanimous enough to forgive him, but if I were him, I’d sure hope God can overlook vows purposely and repeatedly broken and disrespected.
Okay, calming down now. I have to confess that my buttons are pushed on this. My mother was gang-raped when she was eight or nine, and I saw how she struggled her entire life to overcome that trauma. For someone to try to dismiss it as “oh, I sinned, but I am sorry” or “well, they asked for it” really jump-starts my impatience with them.
Ahem, important addendum to my remarks immediately above. I am a believer in the mechanism of divorce to dissolve marriages that are not true unions of mind, body and spirit. I am a child of multiple divorces and understand not only why they are important safety valves but also necessary legal and spiritual concepts. Too many marriages are made in haste/lust/or for reasons other than love and respect of the other, so divorce needs to be available for those who need to escape empty or abusive unions.
If you marry, you should marry with the personal expectation to keep your vows. If you cannot do so, don’t marry. If you are married and can no longer keep those vows, you have not marriage and need to remove yourself from it while fulfilling the legal responsibilities that arise from such a union.
Not everyone should marry or stay married. It’s no shame to admit that you are not “the marrying kind” or that marriage does not suit you or your lifestyle. The shame comes when you pretend you are still committed and try to benefit from the status or benefits it may confer upon you.
I think this man also broke his pledge as an officer, and in many ways it is as bad as his broken vows to his wife and his God. He pledged to his department, his colleagues and his community that he would serve them with honor and trust. Yet he expects everyone to let him off, even if he did not rape these women. Rape aside, he broke his promises on all fronts and, in my opinion, does not deserve to be a police officer and should rethink his right to be a husband.
Yeah, I know I must sound all uppity and all, but it is a right as well as a privilege to be a friend, a lover, or a spouse (also a parent). All rights have responsibilities inherent in them. Just by having sex outside his marriage and in his capacity as a law enforcement officer (oh, the irony in that, eh?), he failed to fulfill basic, basic responsibilities and thereby accountability is due.
That said, if this defendant is using his faith and his marriage as factors to pull on the sympathy of the jury and the community, then he betraying his lack of belief in his vows. You cannot say you believe and expect mercy when your actions continually prove otherwise. Oh, I recognize that faith and our better selves require us to show mercy and forgiveness, but he, as so many here have pointed out, has not asked forgiveness of those he has harmed. Without the recognition within himself that he needs to do whatever he can to heal those he’s harmed heal, then he is missing the point of his faith and his vows. He is responsible for his actions – to his wife, his victims, his church, and his community. He also owes a debt to his vocation. Police work is an honorable profession, deserving of respect. He has stained and harmed everyone and everything he professes he cared about.
My, my, how my responses have evolved throughout this discussion – well, they didn’t change, but are merely different aspects of the same point. I am so glad that this blog allows us all to explore our feelings about our duties to community, to country, and to ourselves. Amazing opportunities abound here. Signing off – for the day (I hope).
Also well said, ks sunflower …very much so. beth.
sure was well said all he way thru
Well said, ks sunflower. beth.
Thank you, Mel, for the information on the issue of rape in AK and, particularily, on the efforts to bring Anthony Rollins to justice through the court system on behalf of the victims.
I’d be curious to know … if the book found in proximity to the gold-wrapped condoms and containers of partially-consumed alcoholic beverages had been, say, a Qur’an (or Torah or any other religion’s holy book) instead of a bible, would the ‘good people’ of the city point to it as definitive proof of the accused’s character? And if they did, would that pointing lead them to conclude the accused’s character —because of the book found– was automatically “unblemished and exemplary” or automatically “horrific and evil”?
As you say, Mel, one really has to wonder about the supporters of the accused packing the courthouse based on, apparently, his ‘religious’ affiliation. Do his supporters honestly believe that at all times, in all ways, in every act and deed, he is incapable of any wrong-doing; believe he is innocent of any of the accusations because he professes to be Xian? And just because he professes to be a Xian, can his supporters categorically swear its teachings are truly his 24/7/365 heart? beth.
Good points, Beth. I particularly appreciated your questions regarding how people would react had the sacred book found in the officer’s car not been a Bible. It always amazes me how easy it is for people to think their spiritual path is the only one or the best one.
Rollins’ defense goes like this: “I had sexual relations with other women outside my marriage, which was wrong, & I did so while on duty, which was wrong, but I didn’t sexually assault any of the women: they came on to me, at least two of them told me I was ‘cute’ [he testified that this morning about victims 1 & 2], & sex that we had was consensual. So while guilty of betraying my marital vows and of doing so while on the clock, I am not guilty of these crimes I’m charged with.”
Per the tweets from KTVA & KTUU journos in the courtroom, Rollins’ victims & their family members hearing his testimony are very agitated about his testimony — shaking heads, rolling eyes, tears, anger, upset. APD officers in courtroom near one journo also agitated. Analysis: they believe he’s lying. Well, so do I.
But in my opinion. at least some of his supporters will continue to support him & will consider him a repentant sinner because he has admitted his sexual offenses in cheating on his wife; but those supporters will insist that he is innocent of the much more serious offenses he’s being tried for. It’s part of the religious ideology that at least some people subscribe to: confess & repent & ask for forgiveness & use the right cue words (“Christ”, “forgiven”, “I’m a sinner”), & hide behind that in order to get away with the even worse stuff.
… And then, if the secular court still finds him guilty, some of his supporters may well deem him a martyr. It’s how religious ideologies work: what serves the ideology, regardless of what the real truth is. (And for even better analysis of how they work, see James P. Carse, The Religious Case Against Belief.)
[“journos”: a handy shorthand for journalists I picked up from my Oz friends.]
Very standard behaviour on his part, and that of his supporters.
If you (plural) can find a copy, I strongly recommend reading Anna C. Salter, Ph.D. Her book entitled [u]Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists & Other Sex Offenders[/u] covers this topic quite thoroughly for the general public. Perhaps too thoroughly for some!
ISBN-10 0-465-07173-2 (paperback)
So at least 2 women found him “cute” (or similar) and “came on to [him]”? Well then, that totally justifies his having sex on and (even more damning) in them. While on duty. And women seeking his sexual favors while he was on patrol surely happened frequently enough in this 3-year time span that he was well-prepared for it…what with condoms and liquor in his patrol car and all. You’ve got to understand, even though he’s married, by doing what he did to all these women, he was just performing a much-wanted (and asked-for) public service! To all these women. That is his defense? beth.
yep. that’s it.
I’m waiting for the they liked men in uniform and got turned on by said uniform LOL
Not a unique defense for a rapists. Some Christians that I have known believed that it was ok to sin since they could be forgiven; however, this is not just a sin it’s a crime and if guilty he should experience the spears and arrows of justice that are more severe because he was operating under the color of authority. And it should be noted his religious inclinations have nothing to do with it.
I fail to understand how sex between a woman under arrest and in handcuffs and a man with a gun can be classified as consensual.
That lame defense is the oldest and most disgusting one in the world. When the balance of power is that far out of whack, there is no consent. Wearing a gun on your hip implies force.
And remember. If there were this many women in the last few years, how many were there before that? I do not believe for one minute that he woke up one day with this idea in his head and started raping women. There have been others, and there will be more after this. As my grandmother always said, “A leopard cannot change it’s spots”
Just to clarify facts – were the women under arrest – ? I didn’t see that mentioned before.
Yes, nearly every one whose story I read. I think there was one he met at a call to a home where a drinking party had been in progress. He ‘allegedly’ called her several times and made inappropriate contact.
All the others (that I read) testified they were in handcuffs during the ‘alleged’ assault.
If he has admitted (confessed his sin of) having sex with those he has arrested, or is transporting in his police car, or when he was with them in a police substation, and he is in uniform and on duty, he has committed a sexual crime of assault. Police officers in the United States are supposed to protect, not victimize, and to uphold the law. Has nothing to do with his religion, redemption or salvation, his marriage vows, or his asking for forgiveness which is strictly between him and his God, him and his wife. Does not mean this conduct should be without judicial consequence. There are many good police officers — and I am sure they too don’t want to be smeared by his crimes against women. If he committed another kind of crime while on duty (stealing, robbing, assault of another kind over and over again), would his possession of a Bible in his patrol car be any kind of a defense? I doubt it.
I know so many officers at APD, and they are sterling people. Ugh, on Rollins.
Thank you for your thoughts on “Repentance and redemption come with honest and unshirking admission of one’s wrongs to the people one has wronged — not only in private confession to one’s God — and a willingness to bear the consequences for those wrongs.” A relative who does work to live a Christian life was all over me years ago to “forgive” another family member. I believe that forgiveness should be ASKED for before given. Didn’t Jesus say that? One must ask for forgiveness before God gives it. Yes, I understand that most forgiveness is for the forgiver, not the forgiven. Why should I give the transgressor free rent in my brain? I should “forgive”. I think there must be a better word here. Sometimes I “release” that person/incident from my present, let it be in my past, dead, but not forgotten, to be used in the future if needed as a lesson.
((((((Carol)))))) “Forgiveness is primarily for our own sake, so that we no longer carry the burden of resentment. But to forgive does not mean we will allow injustice again.” Buddha’s Little Instruction Book
Thank you, Scout. I think that often giving or withholding forgiveness is done for murky reasons. Forgiving others doesn’t necessarily equate with “getting over” a wrong. Some people like to hang onto those feelings of having been wronged for far to long, while wrong doers assume they are entitled to forgiveness. I also believe that forgiveness given or received does not equate to a renewal of trust or to healing. Rollins, his victims, co-workers, perhaps the entire community will need a lot more than forgiveness to heal and trust again.
Carol, I also believe that forgiving is releasing your own anger, fear, resentment, or confusion about someone’s behavior.
In turn, I believe that we often forget to forgive ourselves, and that failing to do so can be a large part of our own dissatisfaction with our lives and ourselves. I have had a few occasions in my life where it was difficult to forgive myself for not being able to forgive someone else. Once I did, though, all negativity seemed to evaporate and I could move on.
I don’t know how we as a society can totally forgive someone who may have committed serial crimes because the totality of the wrongs, the pain, the cruelty seems overwhelming. One instance is horrendous, but many? How do we effectively punish someone for all that harm, how do we get through to them that what they did was wrong and cannot be repeated?
Perhaps the best we can do is prevent a recurrence by removing that person from social contact, trying to get him to understand why he behaved as he did, and then try to figure out how to make the system within which he was able to do those crimes less likely to support a recurrence. No easy answers. No total release – always the prospect of having it happen again. So much uncertainty, so little assurance that we’ve resolved the problem.
As long as we hold ourselves to the same standards of justice or right-living as we hold others, I think we are more likely to live lives of kindness and retain our ability to forgive. Maybe if we try to do what we can to prevent having this happen again we can forgive ourselves (by that I mean release our anger, our fear and frustration). I don’t have any answers. I am not a part of a faith community, but I hope those that are find strength and gentleness within it.
I hope everyone touched by this is able to find healing, including the police department and community as a whole.
Maybe “forgiven” but never “forgotten”
I’m a little concerned about the use of the word “alleged” halfway through the article, as if it is a foregone conclusion that he is guilty. Let’s wait until the trial is complete.
But I otherwise agree with your main point that religion and justice should be kept separate.
What a friend of an accused person is to do is an age-old, difficult question. The response of fellow parishoners, standing up for one of there own, no different that a parent defending a child accused of an offence, is not a surprise. Neither would shunning be unexpected. Each case turns on the circumstances.
My main point was not, in fact, that “religion and justice should be kept separate.” On the relationship between religion & justice, I’d say: real religion demands justice, and calls upon people (regardless of specific faith, creed, or lack of either) to do justice.
Religious ideology, on the other hand — which is at best fake & empty — hasn’t a clue what justice is, & often (as appears to be the case now) to permit offenders to hide behind it in order to evade justice. Religious ideology also tends to insist that it should be the only ideology practiced. It insists it owns the God’s full rulebook, & often used that rulebook to commit extreme injustice.
Re: “alleged”: I use the term that the law has used. But regardless of what the jurors ultimately decide, I’ve read enough evidence in this case to be fully convinced of Rollins’ guilt, & won’t pretend otherwise.
I agree with you, Mel. Too often people use their faith as either a sword or a shield instead of living it quietly and with humility.
They are too busy trying to convince others of their righteousness with all the props attendant to their rituals that they forget that without an inner core of spirituality, the superficial pomp and circumstance can be mere theatrical disguises for shallowness, selfishness, and cruelty.
One can own a Bible, even read a Bible, and not understand it. I hope no one seriously pointed to that “evidence” as proof of his piety.
Having a sense of right and wrong seems implicit in all faiths, but so few who proclaim they follow a faith truly integrate it into their lives, but chose instead to wear it like a cloak they can toss aside when it becomes inconvenient.
Justice is at the core of the demands of God presented in the Bible. The heart of Jesus ministry was the beatitudes, including Happy are those who hunger and thirst for Justice, for the Kingdom of Heaven shall be theirs.
Yep. I’m not a Christian, but that’s my reading of it as well.
In the Hebrew Scriptures also (what Christians refer to as the “Old Testament”), the prophetic call for justice and for people to actively pursue justice is pervasive. “Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24.
Parishoners should help the man confess to the law and to God and accept his punishment.
Otherwise you are the Catholic Church.
From my faith perspective, forgiveness is a process and not a default setting. It makes me cringe when people begin a sentence with “I’m a Christian and …” Too often what follows negates the beginning. Perhaps I buy more into the song version, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love.” A Bible in a police car is not a sign of anything. A VW manual would not indicate he’s a mechanic either.
My Christianity includes justice… and perhaps the idea that one who is given much power has much responsibility. Religion has been used too often as a weapon of domestic violence. (WDV)
Thanks for this entry.
Your relatively short comment is packed-full of great statements!
I wish more of those self-proclaimed “Christians” understood and lived by your perspective. It seems you actually try to put into practice the heart of your faith. Too few do. Thank you for sharing it.
Excellently said. Thank you.
.To many use religion as an excuse to command obedience from a partner whether it be Sexual or physical abuse.They claim the bible says a woman must do as a man says and it is his right to beat her or own her..
Try that again:
http://twitter.com/#!/list/yksin/rollins
Okay, copy & paste in — link won’t work right — http://twitter.com/#!/list/yksin/rollins
I’ve created a Twitter list for the four (so far) people currently livetweeting the Anthony Rollins trial, as Rollins takes the stand. Follow http://twitter.com/#!/list/yksin/rollins to those livetweets. So far, two people from KTVA Channel 11 & two from KTUU Channel 2.
Rollins is on the witness stand right now before a very packed courtroom.
somebody bring the rope.
Thank you for keeping us informed.
Thank you.
Excellent post. Thank you so much.
Excellent post – not enough time to rant about “Christian Forgiveness” crap …. “render unto Casear…”
One can forgive AND make sure he is off the streets and punished.
What a well-written, thoughtful post! Thank you, Mel, for presenting a difficult story with such insightful and constructive commentary.
ks sunflower;
Totally off-topic, but have you seen this? I thought of you immediately:
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/09/6015316-kansas-kids-fight-fire-with-charming-musical-number
D’oh! I dont’ know how to hyperlink in a comment, but you should be able to copy and paste.
Gosh, I hadn’t seen that! Thanks so much for posting it.
Now you know why I’ve been so down on the idea of having Brownback as the Governor of Kansas. It was bad enough that he was one of our Senators, but really, his idea of what is important to the quality of life is certainly not mine. Those kids were terrific and the arts are a necessary part of our lives.
Of course, I may be just a teeny, tiny bit bias about the arts, being married to an artist who teaches in the schools and all, but hey, all the arts (literature, music, fine arts and crafts) enhance our lives in countless ways. Most of all they bring out the best in ourselves as we try to find our way through this crazy world. What I like most is that the arts teach us creativity, how to solve problems, and alternate ways in which to appreciate the world and the people in it.
Thanks, wallflower (from one flower to another, eh?). You made my day much nicer – and considering how cold it is here, that’s a mighty fine compliment to you.
Love it! Thanks for the link. I too admit to being biased. I graduated from KU in 1971, and taught in nearby Eudora for the next 6 years while still living in Lawrence. It’s a great place to live and full of people who love all the arts, as well as KU basketball. 😉