AP takes a deep, dark look at rape and other sex crimes by U.S. police officers

More than 1,000 law enforcement officers were decertified in six years for rape and other sex crimes, AP found
(Image credit: AP/YouTube)

Former West Sacramento, California, police officer Sergio Alvarez is serving 205 years to life in prison after being convicted last year of kidnapping five women and raping or otherwise sexually abusing them while on duty, The Associated Press says, and Alvarez is hardly alone.

"A yearlong Associated Press investigation illuminated the problem of rape and sexual misconduct committed by law officers in the United States, uncovering about 1,000 cops, jail guards, deputies, and others who lost their licenses from 2009 through 2014 for such incidents," report AP's Martha Irvine and Scott Smith, and "there are most certainly even more than that, because some states did not provide records and others, including New York and California, said they do not decertify officers for misconduct."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.