Sex crimes are universally despised in our society. Those accused of those crimes are reviled in a way that they essentially must prove themselves innocent instead of the state proving them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Despite how infamous these crimes may be, the constitutional protections applicable to anyone accused of a crime still apply. This is especially important when a police officer is accused of a sex crime.
The story of a San Francisco Police Department veteran accused of possessing child pornography exemplifies this notion. The officer was arrested last week and placed on suspension without pay after the arrest became public. The department has not released much information on the matter, but an LATimes.com report highlighted that the child porn incident was the latest in a series of issues affecting the department.
They included controversial shootings, corruption allegations, and reports of racist text messages sent between officers about the communities they serve. Indeed, these issues raise concerns about how a department is run and how its relationship with the public may be compromised, but the legal rights of the accused cannot be ignored.
An officer accused of a sex crime cannot be made “an example” of simply to placate calls for reform. This is one of the reasons why an officer facing criminal charges must have an experienced criminal defense attorney to ensure that the process is administered fairly. After all, a person’s livelihood is on the line.
If you have been charged with a crime or are under investigation for misconduct, we invite you to contact us.
