Discussion
  • Read More
    Lyle LanleyAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:28pm

    Why is this, an ostensibly feminist blog, referring to sexual activity involving multiple adults and a minor who cannot legally consent a “sex scandal”?!

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      SqarrLyle Lanley
      6/15/16 5:37pm

      Right?

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      The Noble RenardLyle Lanley
      6/15/16 5:43pm

      Also the ABC 7 headline on the article linked in the post is “Several Officers Accused of Having Sex with Underage Prostitute” and you know, “underage prostitute” makes it seem like she was your standard sex worker who just happened to be a minor. Rather than calling her a trafficking victim.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    rslwnAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:34pm

    looking at Oakland rn like

    GIF
    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      bourgeoismiddlemanrslwn
      6/15/16 5:58pm

      “rn?” What’s your usual look? We are talking about Oakland, here.

      j/k Oakland, you know I love you.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      rslwnbourgeoismiddleman
      6/15/16 6:05pm

      honestly most of the time I try not to think of Oakland at all

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    nightvaleAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 6:55pm

    NPR recently interviewed the two journalists who have been covering this story and a couple of things: 1) They refuse to identify the girl in the story or show pictures because they believe that no matter how much she says some of the acts were consensual, they believe her to still be a victim. 2) She entered into prostitution at the age of 12 which has greatly impacted her perception of how she was treated.

    If anybody has a link to the podcast that would be great.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Josh Levingernightvale
      6/15/16 7:17pm

      That was Darwin Bond-Graham and Ali Winston of the East Bay Express on KQED Forum yesterday.

      http://ww2.kqed.org/forum/2016/06/...

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      nightvaleJosh Levinger
      6/15/16 7:24pm
      GIF
      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    MassofContradictionsAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:29pm

    It’s not a sex scandal, guys. It’s a fucking rape ring. And people wonder why it is I distrust all police officers and law enforcement personnel.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      SqarrMassofContradictions
      6/15/16 5:37pm

      Seriously.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      SuckMyLeft1MassofContradictions
      6/15/16 6:05pm

      I think you’re right, I alsothink there’s a lot of BS that keeps them from being able to say these things, they have to write these sad,depressing, horrific stories everyday, I’m sure they would love to write “scumbag rapist assholes” more than anything in the world... they just can’t :(.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    SqarrAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:26pm
    GIF
    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      BuffyDiedForOurSinsSqarr
      6/15/16 5:29pm

      The perfect GIF for today.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    querulousAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:27pm

    That appears to be a reference to Brendan O’Brien, an OPD officer who died by suicide in May, leaving a note saying he and other officers had sex with a teenager. O’Brien’s wife also died by suicide in the same house 15 months before.

    Being that both he and his wife committed suicide I can’t help but wonder if there’s more than just this situation here that they might have been feeling guilt for.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Sqarrquerulous
      6/15/16 5:36pm


      http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/...

      This is apparently a Thing™ lately.

      Can’t really say I’m terribly sorry.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      MsMquerulous
      6/15/16 5:46pm

      His wife’s death was suspicious and after he committed suicide and left that note, people are thinking he killed his wife as well.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    NoOnesPostAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:36pm

    Yeah, probably best to go outside of the area for a new chief.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      FetishNoOnesPost
      6/15/16 5:57pm

      The Oakland job was bad news before all this occurred. Now it’s radioactive; there isn’t a reputable candidate who could possibly be interested.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      goddessoftransitoryFetish
      6/15/16 7:57pm

      I really can’t picture who would want this job unless every single officer was fired and they started from scratch.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    TrolympicAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 6:09pm

    Brendan O’Brien, an OPD officer who died by suicide in May, leaving a note saying he and other officers had sex with a teenager. O’Brien’s wife also died by suicide in the same house 15 months before.

    Ummm... wow. Does OPD not have psychological counselors on staff or retainer? ‘Cause this sounds like the kind of situation where department-wide intervention has been needed for _years_.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      helgaperezTrolympic
      6/16/16 8:20am

      Someone in the department would have to consider this whole situation to actually be a problem before they could do something about it, and that presupposes the person or people who noticed that there were problems was in a position to do something about it.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    wah-mbulanceAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:53pm

    This poor woman. You can see the horror unfolding on her face as she realizes she was taken advantage of and she is a victim.

    I wonder if she is fully aware of consequences or potential negative consequences from doing this interview. I hope the news station compensates her financially and she gets help from a mental health professional and sues that police department.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      MsMwah-mbulance
      6/15/16 6:05pm

      She has been posting about it for a while on FB (her page is public, and earlier articles about it linked to her FB or posted screen shots of it). I was shocked to see how open she is about it, and that she seemed to be enjoying the attention. It’s so heartbreaking

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      helgaperezMsM
      6/16/16 8:16am

      I read she’s been trafficked since she was 12. She likely grew up thinking that was how things were supposed to be.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    whskygirlAnna Merlan
    6/15/16 5:29pm

    Oh, for Fuck sake. How hard is it to follow the laws you are required to uphold?

    Reply
    <