Pope County Man With Long Career In Law Enforcement Accused Of Child Abuse
By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 NEWS
Updated: October 9, 2012
As Executive Director of the Children's Protection Center in Pulaski County Jennifer Long told KARK it can be difficult for parents to know what to do if they suspect their child has been sexually abused.
"We are so confused by the next step what do we do when we see something that causes alarm," Long said.
Cases like Mark Taylor, arrested in Pope County Friday for the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old.
Taylor was held in the Conway County Jail because of his long career as an investigator with the Pope County Sheriff's Department.
"If there would be a conflict of interest at a local law enforcement or some of those other agencies I can see how families might be hesitant to make that call," Long said.
The family of the little girl called a hotline provided by Arkansas State Police which automatically got the ball rolling as far as an investigation goes.
"If you suspect child abuse you need to call that abuse hotline number," said Long who said the tip can even be anonymous, but once the hotline is called, the investigation begins.
"We're here as a place to connect them to services to try and take that load off an already monumental horrific experience for them," said Long.
Services at the protection center are designed to make the victims comfortable while they have to re-live events in order to build a case against the adults.
"Our legal system is sometimes made not with the child in mind," she said.
Long said this crime is an epidemic and that they help about 300 kids every year at their center.
"We are so confused by the next step what do we do when we see something that causes alarm," Long said.
Cases like Mark Taylor, arrested in Pope County Friday for the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old.
Taylor was held in the Conway County Jail because of his long career as an investigator with the Pope County Sheriff's Department.
"If there would be a conflict of interest at a local law enforcement or some of those other agencies I can see how families might be hesitant to make that call," Long said.
The family of the little girl called a hotline provided by Arkansas State Police which automatically got the ball rolling as far as an investigation goes.
"If you suspect child abuse you need to call that abuse hotline number," said Long who said the tip can even be anonymous, but once the hotline is called, the investigation begins.
"We're here as a place to connect them to services to try and take that load off an already monumental horrific experience for them," said Long.
Services at the protection center are designed to make the victims comfortable while they have to re-live events in order to build a case against the adults.
"Our legal system is sometimes made not with the child in mind," she said.
Long said this crime is an epidemic and that they help about 300 kids every year at their center.
