Posted on Oct 12, 2023
Seattle pays $1.9M to woman who says police officer raped her as a minor, decades ago
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The city of Seattle has paid nearly $2 million to settle a lawsuit that alleges an officer working for the Seattle Police Department in the 1970s raped an underage sex worker during that period.
Two women who were forced into sex work decades ago built different lives for themselves in the intervening decades. They have retained the connection, friendship and support they developed all those years ago.
Candace Sparks wears a T-shirt that says “Stand In Your Truth.” It’s what she says she was doing when she filed a civil suit against the City of Seattle and former Seattle Police officer KC Smith, Jr, back in December 2021.
These days, Sparks is a deputy King County Court clerk. But decades ago, as a teenager, she was living in a girl’s home in north Seattle.
“The pay phone rang, and that was the beginning of my story,” Sparks said in an interview with KUOW.
Two women who were forced into sex work decades ago built different lives for themselves in the intervening decades. They have retained the connection, friendship and support they developed all those years ago.
Candace Sparks wears a T-shirt that says “Stand In Your Truth.” It’s what she says she was doing when she filed a civil suit against the City of Seattle and former Seattle Police officer KC Smith, Jr, back in December 2021.
These days, Sparks is a deputy King County Court clerk. But decades ago, as a teenager, she was living in a girl’s home in north Seattle.
“The pay phone rang, and that was the beginning of my story,” Sparks said in an interview with KUOW.
Seattle pays $1.9M to woman who says police officer raped her as a minor, decades ago
Posted from kuow.org
Seattle
Sexual Assault
Police
Law Enforcement
Lawsuit
Edited 7 mo ago
Posted 7 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Sparks wanted some of the money to go towards helping people going through the same trauma and difficulties she experienced decades ago.
On a hot August day, she walked into the relief provided by air conditioning at the Aurora Commons on Aurora Ave in Seattle, a check tucked securely into Sparks’ bag.
The Commons is a sort of community living room that offers services for people who are experiencing homelessness, and for people who are engaged in sex work along that strip.
It has the vibe of a busy café, colorful feature walls paired with neutral gray furniture and wooden tables.
Here, people can access food, clothes, medical services, case management, respite, and more.
When Sparks and and her friend were working on Seattle streets, resources like this didn’t exist.
“It was unthinkable,” Sparks said. “I didn’t have a doctor for the whole time I was out there, you know. So this, it’s really important.”
Sparks said the Commons feels like a lifeline for people, and she’s thrilled to be able to help support it. The organization received $25,000 from the settlement as a donation, and another $25,000 from the law firm that represented Sparks.
“We feel really honored to be the recipient of that gift,” said Elizabeth Dahl, executive director of the Aurora Commons.
Dahl said the money will go toward things like the organization’s emergency fund for women.
She said the timing is special because three mothers have come to them recently needing support.
“Women who are waiting for other kinds of housing and support, who are wanting help and to exit the life out here on Aurora,” Dahl said. She said these people often have nowhere else to turn.
Sparks’ message to people in those situations is that it’s not easy to take their experience to the courts, but there are people who will listen and help.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the amount donated to the Aurora Commons from the settlement."...
..."Sparks wanted some of the money to go towards helping people going through the same trauma and difficulties she experienced decades ago.
On a hot August day, she walked into the relief provided by air conditioning at the Aurora Commons on Aurora Ave in Seattle, a check tucked securely into Sparks’ bag.
The Commons is a sort of community living room that offers services for people who are experiencing homelessness, and for people who are engaged in sex work along that strip.
It has the vibe of a busy café, colorful feature walls paired with neutral gray furniture and wooden tables.
Here, people can access food, clothes, medical services, case management, respite, and more.
When Sparks and and her friend were working on Seattle streets, resources like this didn’t exist.
“It was unthinkable,” Sparks said. “I didn’t have a doctor for the whole time I was out there, you know. So this, it’s really important.”
Sparks said the Commons feels like a lifeline for people, and she’s thrilled to be able to help support it. The organization received $25,000 from the settlement as a donation, and another $25,000 from the law firm that represented Sparks.
“We feel really honored to be the recipient of that gift,” said Elizabeth Dahl, executive director of the Aurora Commons.
Dahl said the money will go toward things like the organization’s emergency fund for women.
She said the timing is special because three mothers have come to them recently needing support.
“Women who are waiting for other kinds of housing and support, who are wanting help and to exit the life out here on Aurora,” Dahl said. She said these people often have nowhere else to turn.
Sparks’ message to people in those situations is that it’s not easy to take their experience to the courts, but there are people who will listen and help.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the amount donated to the Aurora Commons from the settlement."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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It is so sad when this has happened time and time again. We even have it had been to Canadian female officers.
We also have this happen even in the US Military and former retired Colonel and former Republican senator Martha McSally was raped by her commanding officer when she was in the Air Force.
It has to stop and the good old boy pervert Network needs to be arrested and convicted.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/rcmp-class-action-lawsuit-non-police-women-deadline-1.5805784
We also have this happen even in the US Military and former retired Colonel and former Republican senator Martha McSally was raped by her commanding officer when she was in the Air Force.
It has to stop and the good old boy pervert Network needs to be arrested and convicted.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/rcmp-class-action-lawsuit-non-police-women-deadline-1.5805784
$100M RCMP class-action team hears 'horrifying' stories of abuse and rape but claimant numbers...
With a January deadline looming, only a fraction of the women expected to register claims have come forward to be part of the $100-million class action sexual harassment lawsuit against the RCMP, but according toa law firm involved in registering claimants, thestories emerging are "horrifying."
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