Legal Commentary

Civil Rights Enforcement Deserves Higher Priority

By TChris

This is a stunning abuse of power.

According to the alleged victim's mom, the 19-year-old woman called [Scottsdale] police Sunday morning about intruders in her apartment complex. The mom claims one of the officers, who came to investigate, ordered the teen to get naked. Afraid and confused, she complied with the strip-search.

Officer Chong Kim resigned after the department commenced an investigation.

The FBI may look into whether Officer Kim infringed on the teen's civil rights under color of law.

May look into? [more ...]

Kim ordered a crime victim to submit to a strip search. It is difficult to comprehend an explanation for that conduct that would comport with the Fourth Amendment. It's reasonable to believe that he ordered her to strip because of her gender, so he also violated her right to equal protection of the law. The evidence that Kim infringed on her civil rights while acting under the authority of his badge seems compelling. Why wouldn't the FBI "look into" it?

This investigation should take, oh, about five minutes. Maybe Kim has a plausible explanation, but it's hard to believe he was trained to tell women to get naked under any circumstances.

The FBI should enforce civil rights laws as zealously as it goes after drug crimes. Protecting our right to be free and equal members of our nation is just as important as protecting our security (and way more important than enforcement of crimes involving obscenity).

Full post as published by TalkLeft on June 20, 2008 (boomark / email).