A 30-year Boston police sergeant, Paul Downey, is now charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old child — and paying for it. Prosecutors say he found the boy on Grindr, moved the conversation to Snapchat, and then exploited him across multiple Boston locations.

This isn’t just about one predator. This is about every institution that looked the other way or failed to protect.

We demand justice, there are so many factors that could have prevented this horrible tragedy. 

We are asking to:

• Prosecute Sgt. Paul Downey fully accountable under the law. No special treatment, no shielding behind a badge. He must face the maximum consequences for these horrific crimes.
• Hold the Boston Police Department accountable for its failures. Downey was a decorated officer and academy instructor. How was he allowed to remain in power? Were there prior warnings? We demand a public investigation into how he was hired, trained, and promoted — and whether complaints were ignored or buried.
• Hold Grindr accountable for failing to protect kids. A child should never have been on that app, and a grown man should never have been able to target him through it. Grindr must be held responsible for its role in this abuse and must immediately implement age verification and enforcement that works.

No one gets to hide behind their title, platform, or profits. Not anymore.

Sign this petition to demand full justice — for the survivor, for the community, and for every child who deserves to be safe. Share it to raise awareness.

[Photo Credit: Nancy Lane/Boston Herald]