NO JUSTICE

Dear Sen. Casey,
Sometime ago, I wrote and contacted your office to regards to the horrible abuse that, I sustained from PA State Troopers. This will be seven years ago and still no justice. Truly I do understand that, this is a civil tort but....For me it's much more then that, I was a victim of domestic violence and i was not protected by the legal system here in PA.
I was born and raised in the United States and in our country there are laws that protect women from Domestic Violence. I followed all the legal procedures here in PA and for three years this case sat in Federal court under Judge Gardner and finally he ruled that the trooper was liable for my injuries. When our new President addresses our country and speak so strongly on change, I truly want to believe that this is true for our country but.....Avoiding the horrible truth in what happen to me is just out right wrong. As I plan to one day speak on this matter in public, what do I tell women who are victims and survivors that, the legal system in our country does not protect victims and survivors? I pray for a answer and I pray you hear my voice.

ABUSE OF POWER - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

As I sit here trying to find a way to tell my story and believe me when I say this, I have tried so many times for someone to please listen to the injustice that I have received.

On the morning of September 27, 2002, I was severely injured by a Pa State Trooper that, I was dating at the time of this horrible abuse. That morning will live with me for the rest of my life and the memory of the abuse will always live with me. Many women like me who have been abused realize that domestic violence is a life time of healing. With all the horrible abuse that has surest with the Rihanna and Chris Brown and with several women here in Philadelphia, PA were murdered by there boyfriends. It has saddened so many of us.

Our news media calls it an incident or a disturbance but my group sisters and I call it what it really is and that is Domestic Violence.

I begged for help, I begged to be taken to the hospital and he refused and he left me in the middle of the road bleeding. I was treated like an animal.
This horrible abuse caused me to have retinal detachment from the left eye and has left me in fear for years until now.

I waited for two weeks for Internal Affairs to do there investigation. Until this very day, I remember how the Corporal had said he found it, so hard to believe that the trooper would leave me in the middle of the road because; he's known him for 15 years.

My god, I don't know how I made it back to my place of resident but I did and I felt with the grace of god, I am one of the lucky ones. Not many of us can say this, but those who are left behind are left with the nightmares of the abuse that we sustained.

I followed every procedure in the law to receive my protection order from abuse. I was granted my order from the Lancaster Courts. Our hearings were postponed on two separate occasions and I found it unusual that, the Corporal that interview me in regards to this abuse would attend my hearings.

On November 7, 2002 my order from protection from abuse was dismissed without prejudice. I was horrified and I could not believe my ears. I sat there in a room with several other people who were strangers to me just crying. I was alone; I was represented by my attorney from Women Against Abuse and by the look on her face I could tell that something was horribly went wrong. Did she feel this was unfair?
On December 27, 2002, I received a letter from the attorney stating that they had put the trooper on notice not to call or come near my place of resident. Now, this just made no common sense, if you put him on notice then, why didn't you fight for my protection order. I would never understand why she was unable to receive my order from abuse.

The outcome of the investigation from Internal Affairs and the results was that, they blamed me for my own injuries and it was he says she says. I remember how I sat and cried again and I could not believe that, this was happening. My fears were real and who was I just another female abused physically by her lover and left injured in the middle of the road like an animal.

My conversation with the commander was on February 9, 2003 and on that same day I gathered myself and wrote to my Governor and I quote "I believe there is a cover up within the State Police". I never received a response from the Governor's Office.
For three years, motion after motion, dismissal after dismissal was filed. On June 8, 2007 the federal judge ruled that the trooper was liable for the injuries that I sustained. What horrifies me more then anything is that, this trooper was never brought up on charges. The Lancaster Police Department did not charge him, the PA State Police did not charge him or disciplined him, or even reprimanded him. Nothing happened. It will be seven years in September when this horrible abuse took place. This trooper was able to retire from his position as a PA State Trooper.

For years I lived in fear, not knowing if he was going to come after me. I reached out to an advocate from Illinois who happen to have a Web site called Abuse of Power. With her encouragement, I reached out to Women in Transition here in Philadelphia, PA and with the help of my supporters and group sisters I have empowered myself and advocate for myself. I am no longer afraid and I believe that some how or some way I will be heard and I will receive my justice.

Domestic Violence is an epidemic that is out of control and many more will suffer. Many more American's and all over the world must be educated when it involves victims and survivors of domestic violence.

I am not sure if my story will go on def ears but I felt that, not only for myself but...For many victims and survivors of Domestic Violence who deserve justice and to be able to tell what happen to them.

This is my story.

Thank you for your time and compassion.