PHILADELPHIA PROBES BURIED SEX ASSAULT CASES (Cops Allegedly Fudged Stats to Lower Crime Rate)

In direct response to a series of media reports that exposed the departments practice of downgrading sexual assault complaints during the 1980's to mid 1990's, Police Commissioner John F. Timoney assigned 45 new detectives to the special victims unit to aid in the reinvestigation of large numbers of unsolved sex crimes.  Thousands of reported sex offenses that had been buried by the sex crimes unit to make crime statistics appear lower, authorities said today.  Cpl. Jim Pauley said Timoney's intent is to restore public confidence in the department.

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)