MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former officer with the Hernando Police Department turned himself in on Monday, Sept. 30, after he was accused of sexually assaulting someone while on duty, according to authorities.
Ex-officer Hosie Porter has been charged with sexual battery and rape, DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton said at a news conference Monday.
A Hernando Police Department spokesperson said police officials were notified about the allegation Tuesday, Sept. 24. Porter was placed on leave, and he later resigned. He was serving as a school resource officer when the alleged incident took place, according to Barton.
Barton confirmed the complaint was made by an adult and investigators have no reason to believe children were involved or harmed. He would not say where the incident occurred because an investigation is still underway.
Deborah Clubb, the Executive Director of the Memphis Area Women's Council, helps support women facing sexual assault in the workplace. She said incidents involving sexual assault and rape in different work environments happen too often.
"It sadly is not unusual for people in uniform, whether that's the military or law enforcement officers, to be involved in intimate partner violence, which often includes sexual assault without consent," she said. "So, sadly, that's way too often, day in and day out."
Clubb said that statistically, 70% of sexual assault victims know their attacker.
"We're often worried about 'stranger danger,' but most of us need to be thinking about who is around us - at the workplace, our place of worship, or at school - anyone in our neighborhood," she said. "It could be anyone we know who actually turns on us and becomes a sexual predator."
She said that the Memphis Area Women's Council has worked for years to ensure courts treat all parties fairly and accurately for the duration of their cases.
