Outrage

This story is all over the news here.

Sofia Salva was pulled over by police about a year ago. She is seen on video telling the police officers (one of whom is female) that she is pregnant and bleeding. Over and over again she tells them that she is pregnant and bleeding. She even offers to let them check her underwear.

The officers' response: "How is that my problem?"

Salva was arrested on several outstanding warrants and traffic violations and taken to jail where she was denied medical treatment. When she was released the following day she went to the hospital where her baby boy was born prematurely. He survived for 60-seconds.

In the video you can clearly see Salva's distress and her compliance with the officers. She offered no resistance other than her verbal assertions that she was pregnant and bleeding. Why was an ambulance not called? Why didn't they escort her to the hospital? Why didn't she receive treatment in jail? What the hell is wrong with the people at the Kansas City Police Department?

I all but guarantee that Salva, a black immigrant, wouldn't have endured such treatment (or, rather, lack thereof) had she been a white woman.

Bitch Ph.D. has a fantastic post about the rights of women in police custody, "'Bad' Women Have Rights Too". I'm ashamed to say I hadn't given the subject much thought until reading her post. I encourage you to go there and read it.

The disdainful negligence shown by officers Melody Spencer and Kevin Schnell is repugnant. "Protect and serve" now seems a particularly laughable motto for KCPD. They did nothing of the sort.