What a King County case says about abuse in a national police youth program

In May, King County prosecutors filed sexual assault charges against a King County sheriff’s deputy. They said he raped a 17-year-old girl.  Prosecutors claim the abuse started while the two were alone on a ride-along in his police SUV while she was participating in Explorers, a national youth mentorship program, with the Burien Police Department.  And that allegation mirrors a disturbing pattern of abuse within Explorers programs at law enforcement agencies nationwide. We talk with a reporter who has investigated the program about what she found.  Guest Lakeidra Chavis, former reporter, The Marshall Project Related Links In Police Youth Program, Abuse Often Starts When Officers Are Alone With Teens in Cars - The Marshall Project King County sheriff’s deputy charged with rape, sexual misconduct  - The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.