Conned by a Cop
If there is to be an "accounting", rest assured this is the one and only honest one. What you think of me doesn't matter to me or to this incident a whit - it's the corruption that should matter to all of us. Consider how you would feel were this done to you or someone you love.
Would you not take kindly to someone who literally shows up on your door step in a "protect and defend" uniform and offers to help you during a very difficult time in your life? Wouldn't you feel humbled, grateful, receptive?
I did. I whole-heartedly believed that in his role as a police officer, this "man" simply cared about a citizen and as such, offered his professional assistance.
As time passed, we became (I thought) friends. He e-mailed regularly to see how I was. He showed what I believed at the time was a sincere interest in my life.
I began to trust him implicitly.
Knowing this, he starts his big move... mentions living with a "room mate" for over a decade. A source of "constant frustration". He admits he avoids being home as much as possible.
Then: He's developed "deep feelings" for me... He's "fallen in love with me"...
I fall for it.
Lie after lie. False promise upon false promise.
And I continue being a sucker. And I do wrong, too but under the belief it's "okay". I foolishly justify my actions based on the way he presents "facts" to me. Yes, yes, hindsight...it truly is 20/20 but unfortunately it always comes 'after the fact'. So, as things progress...
I believe every single word this master manipulator utters. He takes that unwavering faith and trust in him and uses me physically, psychologically and spiritually.
I had no reason, nor could my mind even entertain the thought it was all a huge betrayal. He was that convincing.
But it was. He only cared about his own self gratification. As if I were a vessel, not a human being like all others, with a spirit that could be broken.
When things got "uncomfortable" for him, he ran. Mr. "Honesty Above All" (his words). Personal responsibility or accountability isn't for this guy - even though he demands it from others. He even went so far as to literally steal my work via use of his position with Crime Stoppers.
HONESTY. ABOVE ALL? I'm soon to learn that this also involved taxpayer funds, something I take a strong stand against misusing. Now I have to deal with the knowledge that I've unwittingly been a party to such behavior. I consider that a far more serious concern than my own humliation. Payback...it really is a bitch.
BUT. Being a naive fool doesn't make me a criminal or a "bad" person. It just makes me a naive fool.
Adultery, on the other hand, makes one a felon in Wisconsin. Stealing is stealing and is also a crime. Cop or not. Charged or not.
But our boys in blue "have his back".
I filed a complaint with the Police and Fire Commission via the the most difficult letter I've ever written.
He was allowed by his superiors to just up and quit/retire to avoid accountability. The PFC dismisses the entire matter after gathering everything they could get from me. Why? Same reason the police department gave - suddenly, he was no longer an employee and therefore, they could not do anything. Yet he WAS an employee when the complaint was made. Furthermore, they went through all the motions in the beginning, acting as though they were going to take action. It is now quite apparent all they wanted was the "Dirt" from me. Nice bunch... (NOT)
On Friday August 7th, 2009, I am visited by ranking employees from the PD and told 'Well, he's not an employee any more so there's nothing we can do'.
OOPS!
Then, the "man" adds insult to injury by defaming me publicly by calling me "hateful" and "vindictive". More lies. That he knows I can prove are lies. And believe me, I'm considering it. Note also, he handed me another lawsuit - for defamation. Should I pursue it? You tell me.
And why did it take me near to a year to say something? Because it was only recently I received and was able to read a deposition given by him in which he lied. Repeatedly. Under oath.
Bold.
Faced.
Lies.
Under.
Oath.
Someone who's truths are entrusted to them under oath their entire career. Until I saw, in black and white, his capability for lying so readily, I still did not want to believe he was capable of such trickery and deception. These facts were very difficult for me to wrap my head around.
But that's precisely what he did. Had he only been honest, no one else besides those of us already shattered by this would have had to get hurt. And if anyone in this city knew how much honesty meant to me, he did. He has no excuse. One cannot defend the indefensible.
And the ranking officials in our police department added insult to injury by lying to our entire community to cover for him - the community that pays their salaries, trusts in them for our public protection and safety, as did I. If this is what makes up "Sheboygan's finest", we have serious problems.
Sheboygan, your public funds were used for this deceit and deception. You, too have been betrayed.
(For those not aware..>) Who is "he"? John A. Winter. [Former] Community Policing Officer, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA.