Cry Later: The Downfall of Ex-cop Daniel Holtzclaw

Instead of serving and protecting the streets of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the drug addict high on authority once known as a police officer, Daniel Holtzclaw, roamed those streets as a predator on the beat. Now he is facing over 250 years for, among other charges, rape in the first degree. Though teary faced and sobbing uncontrollably, this savage who used to don a uniform projecting respect and dignity stood before Judge Timothy R. Henderson and continued to weep. It may prompt the obvious minded individual to say that his future will be wrought with the social life of prison which would reflect his crimes back on Holtzclaw. For all of his and bawling and sniveling, Holtzclaw should have thought about crying on his day in court before he perpetrated his crimes against his victims. By targeting Black women who, most of them, had charges against them, Holtzclaw brought the citizen on patrol (COP) position to new lows. And that caught the attention of the Black Lives Matter movement. Although he is a mediocre to poor lawyer, Benjamin Crump represented the victims. He bungled the cases of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown and here mainly tried to steal the spotlight away from those affected by Holtzclaw’s menace. But he won.

This blatant lack of respect for the individual rights of the people he was supposed to safeguard landed Holtzclaw in the trouble he now finds himself. The irrationality of his misdeeds point to the fact that most law enforcement officers view their role as an overbearing ogre as nothing about which to fret. The proper position of a policeman or woman is to provide neighborhoods with sense of safety. They ought not go around fondling and raping women. To exploit some of the most vulnerable victims of prejudice and oppression, Black women, Holtzclaw brought shame upon the badge he used to wear. Did he feel that he would get away with his crimes? Did he consider seriously the results of his crimes? His courtroom performance would lead one to surmise that he was contemplating just how severe the world of an ex-cop rapist would be behind bars. His fate that lies ahead will spell a tortuous experience. From the gate, Holtzclaw knew that his evil acts would subject his victims to the reality of possibly going to the proper authorities with their stories. He did not expect to get caught. And for his mistreatment of those who he swore to protect, he will spend the rest of his life in an environment inconducive to freedom or rights. As an ex-cop, he might even encounter the wrath of those persons which he might have sent to jail.

Victims like Janie Liggins who had no criminal background or outstanding cases, merely happened to have misfortune of crossing Holtzclaw path. She brought the truth of his dishonor that he leveled against her. Her courage in the face of potential dismissal and dejection allowed officials to look into her claim which bore resemblance to other cases. Her bravery caused justice to rule the day against this drug addict.

The case is about women like Janie Liggins. She sparked the fuse which lead to the downfall of a wayward cop. Already the recipient of the dual disadvantages of being Black and a woman, these ladies turned their pain into power. Though fraught with uncertainty and derision, these women banded together to ensure that this animal on two legs would see the kennel for quite some time. Their selfish aim to seek out justice paid off by sending Holtzclaw on his way to an existence replete with the full brunt of the law falling upon his head. As Black women, they utilize their inner fortitude and offered up the truth. For standing up for the cause of justice, these African-American women ought to be applauded. There might exist other cops out there who have been high on authority and have overstepped boundaries. Their days may be numbered. Because of the 13 women who stepped forward, the safety and well-being of other women may be preserved. The stiff punishment that he now must accept illustrates that if one wants to get by on the subhuman level, then a severe retribution is inevitable.