We don't name sex assault victims for a reason
It's time for me to talk down to all of you.
You might not believe it, but every day, reporters like Denise and I go to great lengths to protect the victims of crime from further abuse. I've left names of victims out of stories so the carjackers can't learn who they robbed. I've omitted the names of hospitals so the gang members can't find the people they've wounded and finish them off.
We ALWAYS leave out the names of women and children who become the victims of sexual assault. EVERY TIME.
You see, they don't need to be victimized again. Society has decided to protect them so women and children feel free to come forward and report what happened to them.
So that's why I was so disgusted and embarrassed last night when I checked the user comments and found that some people had named one of the children in my stories about the two San Pedro men arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting them.
I failed to see it during the day yesterday because I was too busy working on another story. I didn't notice until 10 p.m. while checking the baseball scores.
That's why an online editor deleted the offending comment last night. And that's why I asked the morning editor to take the whole thing down today. You apparently can't be trusted to make comments and do what's right without someone watching you.
This isn't the first time this has happened. The victims of Dr. Udani were ridiculed. The reason we had no comments on most of the Oscar Medrano stories was because people came very close to naming his victim, who for years had tried to get someone to listen to her.
On a more practical note, why would police officers give us stories about victims in sex cases if they know Daily Breeze readers will put their names online? Why would any victim come forward if they know this can happen?
I'm saying this because I'm angry. User comments are a new part of newspapering. We apparently need them to stay in business, although they didn't do much to save some of my colleagues from layoffs recently or any of the reporters at the LA Times this week.
Some people engage in thoughtful discussions. Many don't.
Those who named a sexual assault victim are despicable. Perhaps you didn't know any better. If you are that person, you should be ashamed of yourself.
And we are to blame too for allowing this to happen.
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About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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Well said Larry....
Hey Detective Cognac hope your doing well.
It would be nice if we could criminally charge scum bags who do this.