City ranked worst in sexual assaults

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

23 October 2010

By MELISSA DICOSTANZO

A report from a national magazine ranked Cornwall with the highest rate of sexual assaults amongst 100 cities, which as Cornwall Community Police Service Chief Dan Parkinson “surprised.”

“I don’t understand where they’re getting the numbers from, necessarily,” said Parkinson.

“It does jump out at you, but we have to consider we’ve raised the awareness level…to a national high in recent years.”

Maclean’s magazine classed Cornwall with a 153.72 percentage difference with the national rate with regards to sexual assaults. The Canadian rate is 62 assaults per 100,000 population. Of the 38 large areas that scored above the national average, none have populations over one million.

Parkinson said in 2009, 85 sexual assaults were reported, an 11.46 per cent decrease over the previous year (in 2008, there were 96 reported sexual assaults).

“Eighty-five (sexual assaults) per year with a population of about 50,000 yeah, the numbers are going to be higher on a per capita basis,” said Parkinson.

“When you’re dealing with a small population base like ours, it’s very easy for the numbers to appear to be skewed.”

He said due to the Cornwall Public INquiry and Porject Truth, more sexual assault cases have come to light.

“There’s been a very heightened awareness of sexual assaults in this community for a number of years,” he said. “When we have a heightened awareness…I’m just taking a shot in the dark, but there may be a greater likelihood of (victims) reporting.”

Mayor Bob Kilger agrees.

“With the inquiry, there’s been a heightened sense of sensitivity in the community, which causes more reporting to happen, which is good,” said Kilger, who is a member of the police services board.

“We all wish sexual assaults would go down, but one of the ways is for people to report them, because it’s not right.”

Kilger said a number of local agencies (such as the police service and the Children’s Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) have dedicated a significant amount of resources to this issue. For example, the Cornwall Community Police Service main- tains a sexual assault and child abuse (SACA) unit mandated to investigate allegations of sexual assault against all members of the community, the police services website states. Officers assigned to the unit have specialized training in the investigation of sexual abuse against children.

There are three officers assigned to the unit on a regular basis.

“We’re fortunate that in philosophy of the public inquiry, that prevention is given a very high priority,” said Kilger. “We can take comfort in the fact that we’re proactively putting resources, dedicated resources, to the issue.”

Janet Handy, executive director of Sexual Assault Support Services for Women of Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry and Akwesasne, said more people talking about sexual assault will result in more people seeking help.

“If we don’t deal with sexual assault, we’re not going to have a future as an adult commu- nity,” she said. “We’ve got to deal with it. That’s the bottom line.”

She said keeping children safe should be the first and foremost priority.

“We’re seeing long-term histories,” she said. “Unless we respond to a child immediatley…they won’t have a better chance of integrating.”

Adult women and men deserve an equal amount of attention, she added.

“(People are going through) current and childhood assault,” she said. “We have both experiences going on.”

And, Handy added, predators and convicted people should be worked with to determine psychological makeup.

“If we understand, we might be able to determine,” she said.

OTHER RANKINGS:

In contrast, Cornwall ranked 51st on breaking and entering, 50th on robbery and 73rd on homicide.

Within each category, Parkinson said numbers have varied over the years.

“Through the lens of time, not just taking one year at a glance, there’s been some sig nificant improvement in some categories for us,” he said.

For example, the number of robberies fell in 2009 to 25 (in 2008, that number was sitting at 33).

The number of murders, Parkinson said, has fluctuated in Cornwall.

In 2008, there were three. There were no murders reported in 2006 and 2007. One was reported in 2003, and another was reported in 2004.

“If Maclean’s had a reporter that year (2008), we would have been right up there with Thunder Bay,” said Parkinson.

Thunder Bay was ranked with the second highest rate of homicides amongst 100 cities in the recent Maclean’s report.

HOW THEY GOT THE RESULTS

Maclean’s obtained annual crime data from Statistics Canada for municipal police services in the nation’s 100 largest populations, each encompassing a city or town of at least 10,000 people. Using 2009 rates per 100,000 people for six crimes–homicide, sexual assault, aggravated assault, vehicle theft, robbery, plus breaking and entering–in each area, the magazine calculated the percentage difference from the national rate, states the Maclean’s website.

The overall crime score ranking for the 100 communities was created in consultation with StatsCan, using its Crime Severity Index (CSI) score and calculating the percentage difference from the national CSI score.

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Comments on this Article 

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Can`t hide the facts….but let`s remember a certain policeman who left his “victims ” high and dry when they needed him most on the stand….Best thing is at least the truth is forcing some help our way

Post #1 By It ain`t perfect but its ours, 

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Perry Dunlop ? He had no choice, The Cornwall Police Force ruined his life in my opinion & probably many others! They were more into coverin’ it up then resolvin’ the situation & doin’ proper investigations into these allegations…….. CORNWALL POLICE SERVICES should be ashamed of themselves! Just like O.P.P conductin’ a SAFE vehicle blitz in St.Andrews, These poilce forces continue to waste us tax payers money & not a dam thing we can do about it. Sucks to be us civilians apparently

Post #2 By seawayguy613, 

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It makes it difficult to fix or rectify a situation when some levels of administration have been accused of inappropriate behaviour or integrations and said indiscretions seem to disappear magically.

Our problem goes deep in this city and as was stated before the lunatics are running the asylum

Post #3 By itinerant, 

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It is know wonder, Mr Mayor should read the local paper he would see why we have these numbers.

Everyday we see the police report arrest on probation go to court released and the same it goes on and on released if you putting them back on the streets what do you expect.

Post #4 By what justice 

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Our city could be ranked worse in a lot of things.. Hospital care, mental health agencies, long term care.. we are in the dark ages as far as these things are and education is falling flat due to unbridled spending by the local public school board on new facilities..the only time anything gets attention is when there is a pending election or newsworthy sensationalism… The police officer in question left town long before the stuff hit the fan and is making a comfortable living out west where he is seen as a hero.. what was he hiding when he left though and why wouldn`t he take the stand too ??? he became the story, not the twisted sad needs of the victims..We are none of us above the law… he thought he was … and I`m sure a nice book will come out villifying our little Cornwall and make us all look like twits instead of talking about the positive steps that have taken place… Still lots of work to do but blame is a two way street

Post #5 By it ain`t perfect but its ours, 

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wow… I’m surprised lol…. Cornwall is a very sick city. People of Cornwall are the only court I trust and we have made up our mind on who is quilty and who isn’t. No need to jail them because they have to live with thmselves and what the done every day. I’m protecting my children from organized religion which I deem to be at the root of Cornwalls ills. We have a godles house and my children don’t even know about the bible or this god character. If the ask I will tell them its a ferry tale to make people scared and obidient.

Post #6 By nonbeliever 

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What Justice.. Good Points… police blotter is probably the most read article in local paper…

Post #7 By it ain`t perfect but its ours,

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Every time I would read about the sex abuse done in Cornwall (my home town) I would literally cry my eyes out and with wonder ask myself why all this is happening. For one thing is that nobody can touch the church officials (the black pope runs everything – a jesuit) he is above the regular pope we see. These people have been sexually abusing children for centuries and we never heard anything about any of this. The history books are all fake. I remember as a young girl going to church every first friday of the month after school and when arriving at the church young boys in my class would scream outside the church not wanting to go in and faint so as to stay outside and I knew then that something was very wrong and I was only 8 or 9 years old at that time. Even the doctors, lawyers, etc. were not trustworthy including the police because they were all entagled into this mess. I felt very sorry for Perry Dunlop and I cried for him and his family for what they went through but yes he did leave the people hanging. When I came back to live here in Ottawa many questioned me how I could have lived in Cornwall with all the horrible abuse going on. Well people that happens everywhere and if you look up what happened in Omaha Nebraska, in Boston Mass., in Ireland, and throughout the world it happens. Cornwall is a small town and more of a family town than Boston or Omaha or even Ottawa or Montreal. People know one another and expect trust and respect. Things went on for decades and I am 59 almost 60 and things went on long before my time. It is only now that things are coming out of the woodwork as they say since we have the internet where people talk, radio and television. In the past people hid all these horrible acts that went on but no longer. We are more vocal of what is going on. If you look at that Col. Williams of all people who held a very high rank and look at what he did. He was flying the royal family and the pm around and he could have gone nuts and drove the plane into some building or into the ground for all we know. He did these horrible acts of sex abuse, theft and murder and he is getting off very easy because of this nitwit looking pm Harper changing the laws. I am sitting here wondering if he knew about this all along and changed the law just for him or what.

Post #8 By jules10003, 

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Don’t worry, I’m sure those stats will go down with their new harley davidson sponging tax money. Nothing to fear!

Post #9 By oxford3, 

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Let`s not forget Dunlop`s wife Carson`s sister coerced some victims into creating stories to make everyone look bad it is on the record ..

Post #10 By It ain`t perfect but its ours,

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There needs be wholesale changes to the system.

The juatice system gives little support to those who come forward. The perps get a slap on the wrist after the victim is forced to confront them and regurgitate their trauma several times over to the police, and then in court etc.

And our counselling services are so dysfunctional it would be funny if people’s lives weren’t being effected so severely. Victims can’t get the help they need.

Post #11 By gelatinousmutantcoconut,

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I am sitting here just now and wondering how Helen Dunlop got into this since this is police business – she is a nurse and shouldn’t have interfered. I am wondering about what Perry Dunlop was hiding since he wouldn’t say what was in those reports. I do know that the church is mighty powerful indeed and so much has gone on down through time that would make people’s hair stand up. For Perry Dunlop to choose jail over going to testify in court something is wrong somewhere. He was also very badly treated by the jailers here in Ottawa. This is one jail that most people would prefer to stay away from. Having his belongings taken away from him and all and Helen having to borrow slippers or flip flops from a friend to put on Perry’s feet. This is a disgrace done to anyone. What I think is that he and his family were being threatened with their lives. Perry loved Cornwall very much until this case came up and all hell broke loose. People when we think of Cornwall we miss it terribly but there are a few things that we don’t miss and this is one of them. Cornwall is like a family people and you don’t know that until you leave it. The people of Cornwall are a caring type of people and good hearted and you don’t see much of that in a lot of other places. Cornwall is sick because of all these horrible things that have happened and still happening and I pray that the people wake up and heal. Even with counselling all the pain will not disappear. So many marriages went on the rocks because of this. I learned something not that long ago was when you go to court the court doesn’t operate on people’s rights but it operates on maritime law – meaning law of the sea. Judges have to go according to that law. Another thing that was wrong with this case lately was that the judge was tied in with one of the victims of this abuse and a grandfather of theirs was one of the abusers. This judge should have been dismissed from the case.

Post #12 By jules10003, 

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When the book comes out guaranteed Perry will be Jesus! Saving us all from the evils of the Church I was an Altar Attendant for years and very involves with the church and I never ever saw any graphic depiction that everyone assumes… There wer allagations of the secular world too like probation officers and lawyers and even jewellery store owners . all of these stories were false was admitted by one of the main victims ” Leroux” . Claimed it was invented and orchestrated by Perry Dunlop and his wife. to make things as bad as possible intelligent minds would ask where is the credibility??? . none of that is remebered though is it? on the record by the way… the only ones who got rich were the lawyers atmthe inquiry Dunlop asked for and did not testify at >>?? question //Is He the God of all sexual victims.. If you or I had the opportunity,, wouldn`t we demand and cry for the best for the victims then or roll over and hide??? time and God will tell.They tried to make it a ****sexual biased evil deed .. ****sexueals have nothing to do with pedophiles that is the myth the bible thumped,, backfired so he ran from town Thank Helen`s Brother Carson for that one…

Post #13 By it ain`t perfect but its ours, 

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it ain`t perfect but its ours you are one giant ass that does not deserve even a reply to any of your comments because most are slanderous and outright lies. Just because you were never molested by a priest does not make it true that priests never molested anyone come on you damn moron the Clergy are getting crucified all over the world for the things that have gone wrong in the church. Why don’t you read the toronto star if you want to know about things that have been done wrong by the clergy. I hope the Dunlops sue your damn ass off for all the misinformation you are putting out there.

Post #14 By dodger,

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However any victims or assalted persons certainly need and deserve help/… The worst of it is someone else tried to use them in the beginning to help but hen got caught up in too many lies and started to believe thing s that weren`t true.. desperation makes people do and say odd and hurtful things and in the case of the law dangerous things .. maybe what was lacking for these victims was understanding and someone to take them seriously in the early days.today there are more open minds and ways of dealing with the trauma of sex assault.. best thing that came out of 50 million dollars is at least helping one person get their life back. but I can`t respect someone using the victims to promote their own sense of worth by not representing themn on the stand during the inquiry even though it was not a trial

Post #15 By it ain`t perfect but its ours,

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So the pope is apologizing to the world because nothing happened right? Get real folks something bed happened in this town and the quicker we stop blaming the messenger the quicker we fix the sick problem.

Post #16 By dodger,

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Dodger I forgive you.. I suppose you were there when all these thing happened…

Post #17 By it ain`t perfect but its ours,

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AND BY THE WAY DODGER I don`t deny any of those terrible assaults happen by church officials or priests, I`nm sure they do and it is terrible for the church as the victims.. I am mearly pointing out that rapes and assaults occur in all walks of life. Incest was the main topic at this speech at the CHILD TREATMENT CENTRE..AND TOP NOTCH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY PAID BIG BUCKS TO HEAR A FORMER mS AMERICA SHARE HER HEART RENDING STORY, Sooo Let`s not bury our heads in the sand and hide the reality of evil deeds everywhere when it comes to sex crimes… pEACE AND LETS SOLVE THE PROBLEM TOGETHER RATHER THAN RUN AWAY..

Post #18 By IT AIN`T PERFECT BUT ITS OURS,

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And YES I do know someone very close who shared a horrendous story of sexual assault. He was a young lad who was assaulted by is own father and his fathre`s friend . A priest actually helped him in every way possible through the agencies in Cornwall and he went on to have a meaningful caring life with proper support and family help. so don`t tell me all priests are evil in Cornwall…

Post #19 By it ain`t perfect but its ours,

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Then god bless the priest that helped him. I however know of and am acquainted with several victims of priests, so, sorry if my view is jaded a little against the clergy. If they would not hide the offenders and make excuses for them and treat them like any other criminal then I would have more faith in the clergy.

Post #20 By dodger,

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it ain`t perfect but its ours I may not have been there when these things happened but I do know they happen as is evident in Cornwall’s case and many other places around the world. At least in the USA they take it serious and charge these animals wether clergy or not.

Post #21 By dodger,

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The controversy continues in Cornwall, sadly the statistics speak volumes. Clearly there is a need for counseling services and resources in Cornwall. Tragically the AG is not implementing the recommendations of The Cornwall Public Inquiry.We can debate the issues forever or we can create a solution. Denial simply prolongs the suffering. Our children are in danger. This energy might be better directed to obtaining resources for survivors.

jonhswales2009@live.com

Post #22 By john swales,

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If you all look up what happened in Omaha Nabraska called Boys Town a lot was covered up as well. There was a well to do politician named Larry King no not the CNN Larry King – this man was a black man and kind of acting like a pimp for the clergy and not only that people but for the pedophile heads in the federal government of the US. If you ever listen to former FBI agent Ted Gunderson he will tell you all about that on youtube.com. This involved presidents of the US of all things and would make your hair stand up. Even when he spoke about Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald’s case and the drugs being shipped over from Vietnam in the cadavres of the soldiers coming home in body bags and you would be surprised how many made big money out of this. What went on and still goes on in many places makes Cornwall tame. What affects Cornwall the most is that it is a small town. Go to the big cities and it is so common. Going back many years ago I was upstairs at Billings Bridge shopping mall before they renovated the place. I can’t remember why I was up there but I worked in the Government tower in those days. On the loudspeaker came the news about a two year old child sodimized by his own uncle and murdered by him and thrown in a dumpster in a public housing unit in Ottawa’s west end and you talk about me being sick just hearing this. People got to forget all about this since here in Ottawa and elsewhere it goes on all the time. If the crimes were reported like what happens in Cornwall people would be scared to go out of their homes. I live in the south end in Alta Vista ward and just last week there was a stabbing nearby near the public housing area and expensive townhouses nearby and businesses. About three years ago there were shootings nearby at the Tim Hortons and apartments a lot more easterly than me and I heard the shots at night and I was talking to an American lady on line telling her that I heard the shots. Many years ago when I first lived in this apartment building there were no townhouses across – it was a vacant field. There was one little 5 year old boy who was set on fire in that field. This is going back sometime in the mid to late 70′s era. This area of town is filled with minorities of the Middle East, Somalia and other places but mostly the two I named. There is so much drug related crimes that it would make your head spin. There are at least 15 or more different gangs in the city and no neighborhood is safe. I remember when my son was just born here in this very same apartment and one lady who was my former neighbor called me on the telephone to tell me that a woman was raped in one of the elevators here back in 1978. Like I said folks Cornwall is still ok. The society that we have today is gone to the dogs. You don’t see kids here on the loose like you do in Cornwall and I have said that before. Cornwall is still a family oriented town compared to Ottawa and other big cities. The people of Cornwall are no worse than any other place. It is time to heal. Those clergy have way too much power and that is how they got off. The same holds true with the lawyers involved, the doctors, the social workers, police, etc. Look at the social worker that took his life and a lawyer as well – that was an admition of guilt. You people in Cornwall get yourselves well and you will eventually prosper. You have survived a lot of the hardships financially and otherwise and you will all get through this. I felt sorry for Perry Dunlop but didn’t know the full story about what he was up to. His wife Helen should have kept out of it all and Carson as well.

Post #23 By jules10003,

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Perry Dunlop was a fraud…period.

Post #24 By mensa2

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Perry Dunlop did have a choice but he refused to testify because he’d be caught up in lies he couldn’t get himself out of. I believe he was trying to make money out of this by trying to sue the City Police but that didn’t work in his favour and when his chance came to redeem himself, he wouldn’t testify. So why did he start this in the first place?? Should have just kept his big mouth shut. I say if you start something, finish it!! He didn’t do that, he let the guilty ones get away, so what was the point??

Post #25 By CXD653

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Perry Dunlop says he was threatened but there’s no proof of that & if they wanted to kill him or do him any harm, they could have easily. Just like Sheriff Ron was threatened but if the natives or anyone else wanted to kill him, they would have found a way.
Also a lot of people who claim they were sexually assaulted came out of the woodwork because they were just trying to get money. I mean how can you talk about being sexually assaulted 20 years ago & you got married, some had kids, and say it’s still affecting you. There was some help back then but you had to seek it, so why didn’t they?? I think everyone in Cornwall who got sexually assualted wanted to tell their story at the Inquiry. The Inquiry was a complete waste of time & our money & cost us way too much! It was a joke. Did anyone really benefit and really seek help later or was it all for show & a possible payout!!

Post #1 By CXD653,

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If anyone is interested read it all on the Cornwall Public Inquiry website. its all there in black and green and white… Draw your own conclusions but lets support any victimes with true pain and try to read the whole thing.

Post #2 By it ain`t perfect but its ours,

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I,m still trying to grasp, what the hell this inquirey was about.There were no repracusions handed out by commisioner Glaude.Perry Dunlop jailed for refusing to take the stand(but others refused also).Steve Parision charged with tampering with a witness(totally exonarated)Ron Leroux admits perjary (no charges)Some police officers, totaly performed incompent investagations.(no orders to do it right from the commisioner)Not one accused person was ordered to take the stand.Etc.What the h— went wrong.

Post #3 By luckyred

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It wasn`t a trial it was an open inquiry to try and discover where the holes in the system are. Perry had a chance to add his 2 cents but refused…

Post #4 By it ain`t perfect but its ours

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It was up to the authorities in place now totake what they will from that information and better the system.. It will always be a struggle for those who were truly abused but at least now there is a jumping point to better the system.. find the holes and those in charge should try and fix them. We now have abetter sex assault unit in Cornwall apparently. that is what the inquiry was for.. not to convict but to troulbel shoot.. Guzzo wanted it too and he got what he wanted…

Post #5 By it ain`t perfect but its ours

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lucky red those who refused had medical grounds , please read the transcripts and note the important personal facts. Cornwall Public Inquiry! It cost a bundle but you all have a right to know what came out.

Post #6 By It ain`t perfect but its ours

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Post#6.Sorry to tell you but your wrong.Not all who refused to take the stand had medical grounds.

Post #7 By luckyred,

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What would you say if i told you even some transcript were printed wrong.But anyways probally and honest mistake

Post #8 By luckyred,

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Post#6.Sorry to tell you but your wrong.Not all who refused to take the stand had medical grounds.

Post #9 By luckyred, 14