Killjoy is the story of a cop's ten year personal war against the indifference and social denial that allows the crime of child sexual abuse to exist in our society and grow at an alarming rate. Rollie Powell's stories show that child sexual abuse knows no bounds and unless steps are taken to stop it, no limits. It is THE most devastating crime in our society today.
As a detective with Rutland's Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Vermont, Rollie Powell offers a full view of the issues from someone who has been on the frontlines - of the perpetrators, the victims, their families, the overloaded justice system and the public media reactions. With honesty and insight into his own conflict and emotions, this memoir demonstrates through case studies the damaging cause and effect of a crime that threatens to unravel our social foundations and destroy our families. This book offers a unique perspective and understanding of the subject, its complexities and devastation. Actual case studies despel the myth that this crime is limited to circumstances, classes or locations. This socially relevant expose offers parents, child care providers, and professionals involved with children, critical insight and prevention strategies.
Excerpt
Dealing with youth offenders is very difficult for their parents. It's the one area where I battled the most resistance, the greatest denial. The child's behavior is dismissed with, "Oh, it's just a phase he is going through," or with very young children, "It's just kids being curious." Some parents take the attitude that, if they just beat the hell out of their child, it will stop. Instead, a nine-year-old youth offender goes on to become an adult offender at nineteen, or at twenty-nine. Sadly enough, it has been demonstrated that there is seldom a cure for adult offenders, unless they are personally motivated to change their behavior. Youthful offenders, on the other hand, still stand a chance of turning their life around with the proper care and attention. The new generation of youthful offenders, often violent, is just as dangerous as the adult offender, and my guess is there are just as many. The approach in their domination of the victim is basically the same, but they do not care about getting caught. They know something is wrong, but they do not know why they are doing what they are doing. As they get older, they get smarter about how they approach their victims. Younger offenders do not select their victims; they pick the opportunity. Youth offenders are young, averaging about ten, but often as young as six, seven, eight years old.
Professional Reviews
National Assn. of Chiefs of Police, Inc. (c) 2000, 2001 All rights reserved
"Killjoy" is the story of a cop's ten year fight against Child Sexual Abuse. This brutally honest portrayal of the stark realities of this crime make this book a critical resource in the fight for prevention. Teachers, police and social workers will find this book invaluable both as a reference and as a view of their own experiences. Organizations and institutions will gain a better awareness of the problem and learn what can be done to prevent and to heal. Parents will learn the realities of child sexual abuse and what they need to do to protect and help their children. Powell's story offers a view from the front lines in mainstream America, of a crime that is not only unraveling our social foundations and destroying families, but is increasing juvenile crime and crime rates throughout the country. His experiences are a reflection of the national picture, one that will offer insight into the problem and its many facets. The book exposes parental denial and resistance, the pervasiveness of the crime in all areas of society, and the long-term damage to families and new generations. "Killjoy" portrays the devastation and cost of sexual child abuse to society as a whole.
Reviewed by Kurt Travis
Alan Caruba, Editor of Bookviews.com May 2001
Readers of Bookviews know I like to group books into categories of shared characteristics, but this section will simply call attention to a number of books from the stacks around me that I want to recommend because they are good in their own way.
Child abuse is one of America's dark secrets. Killjoy: A Cop's Fight Against Child Sexual Abuse by Corine J. Quarterman in collaboration with Rollie Powell ($19.95, Hummingbird Press (PO Box 322, Londonderry, VT 05148) Powell relates his ten-year journey from novice police officer to a detective with expertise in this most foul of crimes. The book will be of particular value to school and other kinds of psychologists, guidance counselors, law enforcement professionals, and, of course, to parents. It is an uncompromising look at the harsh reality of child abuse and it will astound the reader.
Wisconsin Book Watch July 2002
Killjoy - A Cop's Fight Against Child Sexual Abuse by business and surety consultant Corine Quarterman (in collaboration with former police officer and juvenile abuse prevention expert Rollie Powell), utilizes true life case studies to illustrate and document how child sexual abuse erodes the social contract which is essential to the foundation of a democratic and law abiding society--and toxic to families both short term and long term. Especially appropriate for the non-specialist general reader. Killjoy is a timely and welcome contribution to the growing national dialogue about the prevention and punsihment of familial and opportunistic child abusers and their victims.
James A Cox, Midwest Book Review
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Reviews for "Killjoy - A Cop's Fight Against Child Sexual Abuse"
Reviewed by Linda Aines
12/31/2002
This book was hard to put down. It should be read by all parents with children under age 16. It should also be read by anyone involved in Child Care, Social Services, or in law enforcement.
This book is an absolute eye opener. It's a must read for parents and for all who care for children. This book offers insight into the identification and prevention of this horrific crime. If it doesn't anger and motivate you, nothing will.
Reviewed by Lee Cuddy
6/11/2001
This book is full of harrowing truth, truth which we can no longer ignore if the cycle is to be broken. It was enormously difficult to read this truth...how much courage it must have taken to write it! You cannot read this book and remain uninformed, unaffected or uninvolved.
Reviewed by Donna Resta
4/18/2001
This is a powerful look into a devastating crime. It gave me an insight as to what to look for in the people I know around me. It made me see how if we all act together we can stop this horror. It is a must read for everyone who has been a child, who has a child or who knows a child.
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