Too many Colorado police officers have earned their reputation problem.

Police brutality in our state has, at times, made Colorado a national disgrace, and it has served as an example of why the U.S. law enforcement system needs reform. But police brutality in Colorado is not just violent; it is sexual too. 

This is precisely what happened to our client on August 10, 2016: 

Sheriff Thomas Hanna was the highest-ranking law enforcement official in Sedgwick County, Colorado. Sheriff Hanna volunteered to personally transport Peattina Biggs, a developmentally disabled woman who was in custody for a minor offense, from his Sheriff’s Office to another jail. The Sheriff transported Ms. Biggs alone in his private vehicle, took her to his home, propositioned her for paid sex, and when she declined, he sexually assaulted her.

After the assault, Sheriff Hanna told Ms. Biggs that if she ever spoke a word about what happened, she would spend the rest of her life in prison. The Sheriff then drove Ms. Biggs to the jail facility, where he added $20 to her commissary account and left. If Sheriff Hanna’s vehicle had not been spotted by a co-worker stopped outside his house for 30 minutes during the transport, the sexual assault of Peattina Biggs, a developmentally disabled woman, would have gone undiscovered. 

If this story enrages you, join us in stopping male police officers from conducting one-on-one transports of female and/or child detainees. This simple rule would prevent access and opportunity for police officers to sexually assault vulnerable community members.  This rule would also protect law-abiding police officers from unfounded allegations. 

This tragic and avoidable story has been covered by the media including in-depth coverage by CBS Colorado. 

We Must Demand Accountability. We Must Demand Change. 

Signing this petition shows your support for: 

Making the Victim Whole:

Sedgwick County needs to compensate Peattina Biggs for the sexual assault she endured at the hands of their own elected Sheriff.  Thus far, Sedgwick County has refused to compensate Ms. Biggs, despite the fact that they failed to protect one of their most vulnerable and at risk citizens. 

Reinstating the Matron Program:

In previous years, the “Matron Program” required that a female county employee must accompany all female detainees during jail transports. But when he was elected, Sheriff Hanna ended the Matron Program. Had a female county employee accompanied Ms. Biggs during the August 10, 2016 transport, the sexual assault would never have happened. Re-institution of The Matron Program will prevent future sexual assaults of female and child detainees.

Coloradoans deserve to be safe from sexual violence while in police custody, and our client deserves to be made whole after the trauma she suffered at the hands of the top law enforcement officer of her county of residence. 

Please sign our petition and join the fight for justice!