Letters: Timoney - A champion for sex-abuse victims

ISSUE | JOHN F. TIMONEY

A champion for sexual-abuse victims

Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner John F. Timoney played a vital role in reforming police response to victims of sexual assault in Philadelphia ("A final showing of respect," Wednesday).

Every year, the Women's Law Project reviews hundreds of rape and sexual assault complaints filed with the department's Special Victims Unit. With our colleagues from Women Organized Against Rape, Support Center for Child Advocates, and Philadelphia Children's Alliance, we assess the thoroughness and outcome of investigations, raise questions, and provide feedback.

We created this citizen and advocate case review, a national best practice known as the Philadelphia Model, at Timoney's invitation. He knew the public had lost trust in the Police Department in the wake of an exposé that rape complaints had been buried.

Given the history of police failure to respond adequately to rape victims, Timoney's actions showed remarkable insight. He instituted our recommendations, including a full internal audit of miscoded cases. Although he did not expect to find rapes among those cases, he did, publicly acknowledged them, and apologized publicly for the mishandling of the cases.

Timoney leaves a legacy of promoting proper police practice, accountability, transparency, and community engagement in investigating sex crimes. We honor his memory.

|Carol E. Tracy, executive director, and Terry L. Fromson, managing attorney, Women's Law Project, Philadelphia