Suppose there had been another recent "brooming" incident in the county

[Anonymous]

Suppose there had been another recent brooming incident in the county (last school year) at another MCPS high school on another sports team, and the principal removed the offending kid from the team for the year, and never called police. I hear about it through a teacher who didn't teach the kids and doesn't know their names, but knows it happened, that the principal swept it under the rug, saying that the victim didn't want to report. Now the principal is in some other position and the rapist is a star on the team. Who do I tell?

[Anonymous]

Like, won't police just say that I don't have enough details?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suppose there had been another recent brooming incident in the county (last school year) at another MCPS high school on another sports team, and the principal removed the offending kid from the team for the year, and never called police. I hear about it through a teacher who didn't teach the kids and doesn't know their names, but knows it happened, that the principal swept it under the rug, saying that the victim didn't want to report. Now the principal is in some other position and the rapist is a star on the team. Who do I tell?

I’m a mandatory reporter in MCPS so I’d call CPS and give what details I do have.

[Anonymous]

I would call the police.

[Anonymous]

How long ago is this supposed to have occurred? If the principal is no longer there....

[Anonymous]

This happened in FCPS last year too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suppose there had been another recent brooming incident in the county (last school year) at another MCPS high school on another sports team, and the principal removed the offending kid from the team for the year, and never called police. I hear about it through a teacher who didn't teach the kids and doesn't know their names, but knows it happened, that the principal swept it under the rug, saying that the victim didn't want to report. Now the principal is in some other position and the rapist is a star on the team. Who do I tell?

Please, please, please call the Special Victims Investigations Division of the police (and then call CPS). Please. 240-773-5400

This is really important you call the right people. Call that team directly and ask to be put through to one of the detectives. They will know what to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Suppose there had been another recent brooming incident in the county (last school year) at another MCPS high school on another sports team, and the principal removed the offending kid from the team for the year, and never called police. I hear about it through a teacher who didn't teach the kids and doesn't know their names, but knows it happened, that the principal swept it under the rug, saying that the victim didn't want to report. Now the principal is in some other position and the rapist is a star on the team. Who do I tell?

Please, please, please call the Special Victims Investigations Division of the police (and then call CPS). Please. 240-773-5400

This is really important you call the right people. Call that team directly and ask to be put through to one of the detectives. They will know what to do.

If / when you call CPS report it as what you know it to be, "brooming" but also mention "lack of supervision". In the Damascus case, one of those boys was determined to be so dangerous (by MCPS) that PRIOR to the assault, he was not allowed to walk alone in between classes (that came out at trial) and yet, MCPS left him a lone in the locker room! So.....report both things. The abuse / sexual assault AND the lack of supervision.

[Anonymous]

If a crime has been committed, you call the police.

[Anonymous]

So, I have now called both CPS and the Special Victims number provided above. CPS asked me to call back during normal business hours and I left a voicemail with Special Victims. Thank you for encouraging me to do what I knew I should.

[Anonymous]

Thank you OP for going out if you way to do this. It’s tough to do, but IMO, it’s the right thing to do. Let them investigate and determine the best course of action.

[Anonymous]

Out of your way

[Anonymous]

I don’t know who you call but just think about how traumatized that kid is. It doesn’t go away for the kid by brushing it under the rug. You could make a real difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I have now called both CPS and the Special Victims number provided above. CPS asked me to call back during normal business hours and I left a voicemail with Special Victims. Thank you for encouraging me to do what I knew I should.

thank you for being willing to come forward.
—MCPS teacher and parent

[Anonymous]

Excuse me while I recover from the shock here. There are several of these incidents? Is brooming a well-known abuse tactic?

What the hell is going on???