Posted on 07/25/2006 9:19:35 PM PDT by Coleus
Police in a small Texas town say a 13-year-old girl was raped. But the ensuing pregnancy has turned into a small-town morality play, with anti-abortion Catholics complaining because Dublin police drove the girl from a belated rape examination to a Fort Worth Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.
Dublin Police Chief Lannie Lee says his officer drove the girl and her family to a Fort Worth hospital on June 23 for an examination in connection with the May incident. When the family decided to consider an abortion, the officer had to go along to collect any remains as evidence, Lee said. A lawyer for the Fort Worth chapter of Catholics United for Life says his group was surprised to see a police cruiser giving a girl a ride to an abortion clinic.
"We want to know whether the Dublin police are in the abortion business," said Robert Gieb, a Fort Worth lawyer. The girl decided not to have an abortion, Lee said. But if he had to do it again, he would still have Dublin officers accompany a possible rape victim from an examination to an abortion clinic, and not only to collect evidence. "If we didn't take them, they might wind up having the abortion in a back room at somebody's home, and the victim might suffer even more," the chief said.
Gary Cehand, 29, of Dublin, a convicted burglar, is jailed in Erath County facing a possible charge of aggravated sexual assault, District Attorney John Terrill said. His bail is set at $50,000. Gieb wrote letters to the mayor and city manager of Dublin asking why their police took the girl to the clinic. When city officials didn't respond, he sent the same letter to the Stephenville Empire-Tribune newspaper.
The newspaper headlined its story: "Police car at abortion clinic questioned."
Lee has since explained that police first took the girl and her family to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. When the family chose to go to Planned Parenthood, the officer needed to go along. After the newspaper report, Dublin officials released a statement saying that police went along for "protection of the victim and her rights." But that didn't mean that police were protecting the family from the Catholics United for Life counselors who talk to women going into the clinic, Lee said.
They were there to protect the girl in case there was a family disagreement, he said. Dublin residents' reaction has been mixed, he said. "A lot of people support our decision," he said. "I think the negative calls came to City Hall. But once people learn that we would have needed any DNA, I think they understand what we did." Gieb does not. He and his group have yet to hear an explanation from Dublin officials, he said.
"Abortion is an inherently evil act, even in difficult cases," he said. "It is not something the government should assist. The government is under no obligation to provide abortions" -- or, in this case, rides. A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of North Texas, Emily Snooks, said: "It's a shame that because this family followed the law to a T, their private decisions were dragged into the public domain by irrelevant outsiders."
Lee said the family couldn't afford other transportation. "We weren't sure what was going to happen," he said. The officer did not go into the examination room, he said. Lee has been police chief in Dublin for six years. "I wish people would think about this little girl," he said. "We tried to make sure she was treated with care and concern. I wanted to be sure that she was protected all the way, and that whatever happened was her decision."
His officer hadn't planned on going to an abortion clinic, he said. "But when they wanted to go, we had an obligation to see her through," he said. I think the Dublin police did the right thing. But I also understand why folks might worry about it.
Very, very, very sad...
Prayers for this brave little girl and her family.
but police are allowed to take children to have abortions? >>
and so can teachers and guidance counselors without the permission of the parent and not knowing if a grown man, a child predator, impregnated the girl because nobody asks and nobody cares. It's a sad and sick world in which we live.
Since when is a hospital examination not considered enough evidence as to whether someone is pregnant?
This is a bit different in that her family was with her. Not quite the same as the attacker or a boyfriend taking her to the clinic.
Since a rape was involved, getting as much DNA evidence as possible is always a good idea to get a conviction. Having the cop helps to keep the evidence chain intact from any screwy judges.
I understand about the dna. They will need it when the baby is born too. He admits other motives though.
" "If we didn't take them, they might wind up having the abortion in a back room at somebody's home," "
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You know I'd really like to know where these mysterious back rooms are at people's houses. And these back alleys as well. I keep hearing about them but I haven't ever seen one/gotten an address.
This is a bit different in that her family was with her. >>
I was just making a point for those reading the thread.
DNA evidence is gathered at the hospital and not an abortion clinic.
"I wish people would think about this little girl,"
It's important to think of a little 13 year old girl first and foremost.
While I am Pro-Life, I see no problem with THIS.
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For the most part, the back alley butchers hung out their shingles as legal abortioists when Roe vs. Wade went into effect.
I'm glad that the girl decided not to have an abortion - the last thing she needs is more violence to look back on. I hope she and her family get more help from their community as they welcome the new child to their family.
I understand the policeman's need to follow chain of custody. It's a shame about his "back room" ethics, though.
It's not as if the men who questioned the location of the patrol car were stalking the sheriff or the girl. They were there to pray and attempt to change hearts and minds.
With which?
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