Politics aside, there's something deeply troubling about Jeff Perry's actions in this case that go beyond simply 'trust,' instead representing moral bankruptcy, a disregard for common decency, true contempt for a young kid and a moral depravity to deny it afterwards.
The victim's public statement is below.
Strip search victim speaks out on Jeffrey Perry
By George Brennan
STAFF WRITER
October 20, 2010
Lisa Allen, the victim of an illegal strip search in 1991 by a Wareham police officer, is breaking her silence saying that Jeffery Perry, a Wareham police sergeant at the time and a Republican candidate for Congress, did nothing to protect her.
“Jeff Perry was nearby when Scott Flanagan illegally strip searched me,” she said in a statement released by her attorney Wednesday. “Perry knew what Flanagan did, he had to hear me screaming and crying. Instead of helping me, Jeff Perry denied anything happened.”
Full Text: Read Lisa Allen's statement on Jeffrey Perry
Perry has been hammered by political opponents in this campaign about the illegal strip searches, in large part because his own story about what happened has changed and because his recollections don't match the public record in the case.
In a statement issued through his spokeswoman, Perry said what happened to Allen was wrong and should not have happened. “Scott Flanagan's actions were despicable and a betrayal of the oath he took as a police officer,” Perry said. “My heart goes out to Ms. Allen for what she was put through by Scott Flanagan that night.”
The strip searches have been the target of fliers and radio and TV ads, including one that was pulled by three radio stations on Cape Cod this week because of some questionable content.
Perry has called the attacks “mud-slinging,” but his opponent Democrat William Keating has said it's a matter of trust.
In statement today from Keating, he said: "No one should have to experience the trauma that Ms. Allen experienced, particularly at the hands of those entrusted to protect her. As district attorney, I have a profound respect for the incredible courage it has taken her to step forward and speak out about this offense. She is an inspiration to every survivor and to all of us who believe in justice for victims."
Perry and Keating, with less than two weeks to go in their bitter campaign, are expected to attend a League of Women Voters forum in Weymouth tonight.
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Lisa Allen's full statement released by her attorney:
"I cannot stand by silently any longer while what happened to me is discussed in the press. It upsets me that Jeff Perry can run for Congress after what he did to me when I was fourteen years old.
"Jeff Perry was nearby when Scott Flanagan illegally strip searched me. Perry knew what Flanagan did, he had to hear me screaming and crying. Instead of helping me, Jeff Perry denied anything happened. Even after Scott Flanagan admitted the truth under oath and pled guilty, Perry never apologized for allowing Flanagan to abuse me. Now he has said he would not do anything differently if he had the chance.
"Perry did not care about protecting teen-aged girls in Wareham from police officer Flanagan. Jeff Perry cared only about protecting police officer Flanagan.
"Chief Joyce now says Jeff Perry was a good cop. Neither Chief Joyce nor Sgt. Perry were good cops. Chief Joyce refused to investigate when my mother complained about what Flanagan did to me. Like Perry. Chief Joyce protected police officer Flanagan instead of protecting teen-aged girls from police officer Flanagan.
"Jeff Perry was not an honest police sergeant; he should not be in a position of power."
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