To look into the face of a child is to look into all that is good and precious in our world.  Born with an innocence that touches the hearts of all they come in contact with, children instinctively trust their parents and the people they meet.  But tragically, that trust is sometimes shattered.  As parents who love our children, we find it almost inconceivable that anyone could rape a child or take pornographic pictures of a child and put them on the internet, but it happens.  In fact, it happens every single day. 

 
There are very few things that can help a child who is sexually abused or violated.  Having a parent who loves them and who ensures they get the counseling and the help they need is one.  A second is having a Detective such as Detective Tom Connor assigned to the case.
Since 2006, Detective Connor and his partner Detective Dan Ciryak have been assigned well over 800 cases.  With such a large case load, one would think there would be very little time for them to spend with these children and their moms who have been so horribly victimized, but Detective Tom Connor and his partner make the time.  It’s a difficult job to earn the trust of a child and a parent whose lives have been shattered by abuse, but Detective Connor knows that it is only by building a relationship based on trust that he can find a way to truly help them. 

And clearly, Detective Connor has more than succeeded.  In November of 2006, Detective Connor led the successful prosecution of Joseph Coles, a man who sexually abused and raped his stepdaughter on multiple occasions.  Thanks in large part to Detective Connor; Joseph Coles was sentenced to 210 years in jail.  In yet another case investigated by Detective Connor, the father not only sexually abused his child, he took pornographic pictures of her and posted them on the internet.  Apparently many sexual predators trade these internet photos like baseball cards.  As sick and twisted as that is, not to mention illegal, it can be a difficult case to prosecute because current law requires that in order to even prosecute these cases, the police officer must travel to the state in which the case is being prosecuted in and testify. One of the saddest parts of these internet child pornography cases is that every time the child’s picture is posted on the internet, it’s as if she or he is being victimized once again. 

Seeking to stop the victimization of one little girl, Detective Connor has traveled to testify to Texas, Kentucky, California, Michigan, Nebraska, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Florida.  And in fact, when it comes to the prosecution of child pornography pictures on the internet, he has never lost a case.  During his 11 years as a police officer, Detective Connor has successfully investigated and helped to prosecute hundreds of sexual assault cases, including the case of Dr. Ahmed who was convicted of 21 counts of sexual assaults.  And in fact, if the Police Officer of the Year Award were only to be awarded based on the number of cases that a police officer successfully investigated and helped prosecute, clearly Detective Connor would have been chosen on that basis alone.  But it isn’t just the number of cases that he has successfully investigated that makes Detective Connor the outstanding police officer that he is.  It’s the depth of his compassion, and his determination to help these children rebuild their lives.

One thing about the Youth Sex Crimes Unit is that there are not many officers who want to work in that particular department-who among us would?  Imagine if you will what it would be like to come to work and have to sit down and talk with a seven year old little girl who had just been raped.  It’s not a job you can leave at the office.  And cops such as Detective Connor who do their job well, are able to do so because they genuinely care about these children.  But in order to care, really care, you have to open your heart to each one of them.  And no matter how hard you try, that’s not something you can leave at the office when you go home at night.  And so we asked Detective Connors, “How do you do it?  Is it worth it?”  And he said, “as hard as it is, working in this Division, I get to really help people.  And not only do we get to help the child who has been victimized, but we get to try to make sure that the person who committed the crime doesn’t get the chance to do it again.  But in order to help them, you have to be more than a cop.  You have to become their friend, their advocate, and sometimes even their counselor.  But the part that makes it worth it to me, is that you also get to help them find a way to begin to their lives again”  And clearly, he is succeeding, because many of those whom he has helped keep in touch months, and even years after the actual case has been resolved.  And for him, that is the most satisfying part of all, to know that they’ve managed to find away to rebuild their lives, and that he was able to help them do that.

A little known fact about Detective Connor is that before he was a cop, he was a Marine.  And in fact, his partner and he not only went to school together, but they both joined the marines after school.  And now, together, they work to serve and protect our children.  As many know, the Marine’s motto is Semper Fi-“Always Faithful”.  When serving as a Marine, Detective Connor was faithful to his mission of serving our country.  As a police officer, he has been incredibly faithful, going far beyond the call of duty, to helping these children and their families get the help they need and to ensuring that these criminals are sent to jail-which is exactly where they belong.   He doesn’t do it for the glory, there is none.  He certainly doesn’t do it for the pay, police officers don’t make much.  He does it for the kids.

Somehow, a mere thank you seems so inadequate.  But thank you Detective Connor, for all that you do to keep our children safe.