Former Police Officer Charged with Child Rape, Other Offenses
BOSTON, August 13, 2020 — A former Boston Police officer was arraigned today on charges he repeatedly sexually assaulted and abused a child, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said.
PATRICK ROSE, 66, of West Roxbury, was arraigned today in the West Roxbury Division of Boston Municipal Court on five counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and one count each of aggravated rape, enticement of a minor, open and gross lewdness and dissemination of matter harmful to a minor.
“Prosecutors could not request that Rose be held based on dangerousness under Massachusetts General Law Ch. 276 Sec. 58A because the offenses he is charged with are ineligible under the statute. Despite the heinous and egregious nature of the multiple charges against Rose, our Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that the offense of rape of a child does not involve the predicate level of force or threat of force necessary to qualify under the dangerousness statute. I personally find this reprehensible and intend to advocate for a cure that is victim and child focused,” District Attorney Rollins said.
Assistant District Attorney Audrey Mark, Chief of District Attorney Rollins’ Child Protection Unit, instead requested that bail be set in the amount of $250,000 in light of evidence that Rose was attempting to evade arrest and the resources that are available to him. Rose had been held on a $250,000 bail the night before his arraignment. ADA Mark additionally requested that Rose be ordered to wear a GPS monitor, stay away from and have no contact with the victim, have no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16, surrender his passport, and surrender any firearms in his possession. Defense counsel argued that bail should be set at $5,000. Judge Kathleen Coffey set $100,000 bail and ordered the defendant to wear a GPS monitor, stay away from and have no contact with the victim, have no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16, surrender his passport, and surrender any firearms, as well as his license to carry.
“There is no greater betrayal and breach of trust and morality than sexual violence against a child. That the individual accused of these despicable crimes is an adult family member of the victim and a former member of law enforcement, who swore an oath to protect victims from harm, is unconscionable,” District Attorney Rollins said. “While this man was molesting and harming an innocent child, he was standing in judgment of others as a sworn member of law enforcement. He has dishonored the badge of the Boston Police Department and I intend to hold him accountable. Disclosing sexual assault can be incredibly difficult, especially for a child. When the perpetrator is an adult and a family member, it can become even harder. I’m so proud of the survivor in this case for finding the strength and the courage to come forward. The specially-trained staff assigned to my Office’s Child Protection Unit are here to provide services and resources to help begin the process of healing and to ensure that Rose, who inflicted this unspeakable harm, is held accountable. Sexual assault committed within families often results in significant generational trauma and harm. We intend to be available for the family members of this victim as well.”
Assistant District Attorney Mark told the court that Rose allegedly abused the victim on multiple occasions between 2012 and 2018, when the child was between the ages of 7 and 12. The victim disclosed the abuse to a relative earlier this month, who reported the assaults. Because of Rose’s position within the Boston Police Department and as former president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, Rollins determined that the investigation would be led by State Police detectives assigned to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and not the Boston Police Department.
The victim disclosed information about the assaults during a forensic interview that took place at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office yesterday.
Based on information gathered during the forensic interview and through the course of the investigation, State Police detectives placed Rose under arrest in Needham yesterday. The investigation remains ongoing.
While the victims and witnesses of any crime should call 911 in an emergency, there are additional resources available to report suspected crimes against children and for survivors of abuse to receive help. In Suffolk County, survivors of child abuse and exploitation and their non-offending caretakers can receive comprehensive services at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. The CAC can be reached at 617-779-2146. Survivors may also contact the Child Protection Unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 617-619-4300. Anyone who believes that a child in Massachusetts may be the victim of abuse can call the DCF Child at Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200.
Kate Lagana is the assigned Victim Witness Advocate. Rose is represented by Michael McKinnon. The case returns to court September 10.
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.