Dad pleads guilty to battery against 13-year-old son-and keeps job as cop (Evansviile, Indiana)

Dad ALLAN GOODWIN has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery for beating his 13-year-old son.

Notice that the reporter chooses to use the word "striking" (priviledging the father's account of the incident) in describing this case, though the boy apparently used the word "beating" in describing his injuries to the mother of one of his friends. Also notice that the description of the injuries--which include "extensive" bruising to the boy's back and elsewhere--suggest a beating, not 4 or 5 "strikes" with an open hand which is what the father claimed. Apparently doesn't matter.

Also note that we downplay the assault by describing this as taking place during a "family argument." This is standard operating procedure for how the police minimize and trivialize violence that's committed by family members, especially fathers. It's too bad when the press uncritically parrots this.

Not to worry about Daddy though. He gets to keep his job with the Evansville Police Department. And the police are very charitably offering counseling to all concerned, since punishing this poor, poor man "would not benefit his family or him." My oh my. Are we this touchy feely with everybody who assaults somebody in Indiana? Oh, but Daddy expresses such remorse. Don't they all. Especially after they're caught.

Funny how we get all "liberal" when it's a white guy, a father, and a police officer who beats a 13-year-old kid. I can guarantee you that if some random Black guy had beat this kid out in Evansville, Indiana he'd be on his way up the river now. No touchy feely, believe me.

And one more thought. Is this a single father? Notice that there's not word about this boy's mother, and that he disclosed to the mother of one of his friends. And that he's now in foster care. Hmm.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/mar/19/officer-pleads-guilty-keeps-job/

Officer pleads guilty, keeps job
Charged with battery against son
By Lydia X. McCoy
Posted March 19, 2010 at 11:44 p.m.

Evansville Police Sgt. Allan Goodwin, who pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor battery for striking his 13-year-old son during a family argument, will keep his job as a police officer

EVANSVILLE — Evansville Police Sgt. Allan Goodwin, who pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor battery for striking his 13-year-old son during a family argument, will keep his job as an officer with the Evansville Police Department.

Police Chief Brad Hill said in a statement issued Friday afternoon that the Evansville Police Merit Commission had decided to return Goodwin to full duty, effective Friday. Goodwin had been on administrative leave, which is standard procedure when criminal charges are filed against an officer.

Goodwin, 57, was arrested and charged on March 4 with battery resulting in bodily injury, a class D felony, after the mother of a friend of his 13-year-old son had reported to school authorities that Goodwin's son had come to her house and said he had been beaten by his father.

On Friday, Goodwin pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement filed in Vanderburgh Superior Court. If the agreement is accepted by the court, Goodwin will get a six-month suspended sentence and will have to comply with counseling recommended by the juvenile court.

Hill said that Goodwin, who has been on the force for 35 years and had no other disciplinary action in his personnel file, does not need any more punishment from the department.

"Counseling has been mandated for Sergeant Goodwin in hopes that his entire family will participate. He has admitted that he's wrong and pled guilty to misdemeanor battery," Hill said. "That criminal charge will be on his record for the rest of his life. This incident occurred when he was off-duty and did not involve the use of his police authority."

Hill said punishing Goodwin further "would not benefit his family or him and would serve no legitimate purpose for the Evansville Police Department."

Goodwin did not say anything during the short hearing, except to answer questions by Superior Court Judge Robert Pigman.

His attorney, Russ Woodson, said he couldn't comment on the case until after Goodwin is sentenced, which is scheduled for Friday.

According to the police report, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office was notified after the mother of the child's friend contacted the school and said Goodwin's son came to her house about 11 p.m. "because he had been beaten by his father and wanted to get out of the house."

School personnel had the child go to the nurse's office, where a physical examination was conducted. The examination revealed "extensive bruising to the back (of the child) and various other minor bruises about his body," the report said.

When questioned by sheriff's deputies about the incident, Goodwin told them he and his son had quarreled about grades, curfew and who the child associates with. He said he lost his temper, striking the boy about "four or five times with an open hand."

"Goodwin expressed his remorse for his actions and when shown photos of (his son's) injuries, became visibly upset and said he did not realize the extent of the injury he had caused," the report said.

Goodwin's son has been placed in foster care.