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Summary

http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/isl/id/38013

TRANSCRIPT

Because of the unique nature of the LAPD's Sexually Exploited Child Unit (SECU), we sent an investigator to Los Angeles to speak with officials in charge of the unit. C. The LAPD Sexually Exploited Child Unit In October of 1976, the LAPD created a task force to assess the nature and scope of sexual exploitation of children in the city. The Police Department had formed an Abused Child Unit in 1974 because of the pressing demand for investigation of blatant child abuse. As investigators became aware of the incidence and seriousness of sexual child abuse, including prostitution and pornography, crimes usually not involving a victim's family, it became apparent that an expert unit might be needed to handle crimes of these types. The task force operated for a period of eight months and conducted over 50 separate investigations, focusing on interviews of more than 150 victims and suspected offenders. The task force concluded from its investigative and analytical work that "...the crimes were being committed by the suspects [sic] use of various methods to seduce and exploit the juvenile victims. This type of child molestation is not usually spontaneously reported to the police. The suspects in these cases establish relationships with their child victims, sometimes lasting for years. The suspects typically gave their victims gifts, sometimes as elaborate as motorcycles or cars, took them on expensive vacations, gave them narcotics, or whatever material rewards the victims desired. The suspects gave the children attention and affection which was often lacking in their homes because of parental indifference. More than one victim referred to a suspect as his 'best friend.'" In at least one important sense, the LAPD had the jump on the House Committee and many of its witnesses. The LAPD Task Force had addressed itself to the core principle of sexual exploitation: the susceptibility of the victim to influence by an experienced child molester. The Task Force also revealed that victims responded because the crimes being committed were usually not violent in nature; in fact, often the relationships established with the offenders seemed, at least at the time, to be the only valid relationships many of the victims ever had had. Transcripts of the House Committee hearings and transcripts of several state hearings include that final phrase, "his best friend," too often to be mere coincidence.