Orlando Sentinel story about "inappropriate fondling" on the Dream

[Rogillio]

The first person it was reported to should have called the local authorities as well as their own chain of command. Wrong. It was reported to GS. It anyone 'should' called the cops, the grandparents shoud have. Don't put this on GS. They did what they should have on, called security.
If DCL has a policy or a work culture in place that prevents this from happening it is for one reason only and that is to keep it in house until they have had time to do damage control. Baseless conjecture.
If someone came to me to say their daughter had been molested my very first call would have been to the local police not my supervisor or in house security.
Crimes and accusations are reported to the police. PERIOD. Unless you are the police and the local prosecutor you have no authority to decide if an accusation has merit. I doubt it was reported as a molestation. An 11 yo Brazilian girl told her grandparents a guy touched me. The presumably Brailian, Portuguese speaking grandparents relayed this to GS.
DCL screwed this one up. There is never an excuse to delay reporting something like this.

Nothing is ever as clear cut as our first assumptions.

 

[linkandclover]

I saw the video. Unfortunately it's not exactly conclusive evidence of anything.

Now they should have done something and they screwed up by the numbers.

(However, I admit that the police department's "indignation" is one of those "of course we would have done something" As someone who has reported child abuse, I am skeptical! It's a lot easier to "claim we would have acted" but unfortunately I have seen "we will get there when we get there" unless you wind up with a life threatening issue! I got action by saying "if you are not here in half an hour I am calling the Chief and the local news media" That worked but.... )

Glad you said what i have been thinking. I am not sure how many people here have dealt with the police or child protective services before but there is a harsh reality here that has nothing to do with Disney. This was not, in any way the emergency people perceive it was as I have been told many times by CPS "if the child is out of danger they will get to it" (this is called triage). The same holds true for the police department ( A 4 car pile up takes first priority over a child- now safe- who was touched and kissed by a male on a boat). Now don't attack me for this as I work with survivors of sexual assault and incest on a regular basis and I know what they go through and I would never minimize the trauma for what it is.

Should Disney have called the police immediately, sure, but this was not rape or murder and so you are left with something vague and less clear cut (he kissed you, he touched you- many people can get confused by this because it is less severe and dramatic and therefore respond less dramatically). (How many of you have seen a parent spank a child in public and not called the police yet by your own statements this is abuse and wrong.) Corporations tend to review these events internally first so if you don't want them involved call the police first. There are numerous cases all over the media where this has occurred and been ignored and for much more horrific crimes. If the crew involved decided to watch the video, the one online is very unclear and the predators behavior is odd because he left the door open. This may have created some confusion and caused delay.

For those who think that the American legal system would have done a better job than Bahama or possibly India ( I have not seen any reports about what transpired other than him returning to his native country) remember that OJ Simpson was acquitted for murder despite DNA evidence because a glove did not fit, and I have worked with several individuals who have been sexually abused by relatives or raped and these crimes continue to go unpunished despite multiple police reports and CPS investigations because the allegations came out after the fact and there was not enough proof to go forward.

 

[hrhdhd]

But, like I said about the Parks, it's Disney policy to not declare a death inside the Parks.....so somewhere there are probably a long list of rules about how to place "Disney" in the best possible light, no matter how dire the situation.

Not to change the subject, but the Snopes article about this issue is worth a read:

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/declare.asp

 

[Rogillio]

Not to change the subject, but the Snopes article about this issue is worth a read:

http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/declare.asp

Pretty funny.

No doubt at all that Disney is very protective of he Disney brand but I don't buy the implications that they covered up a molestation to protect the brand.

 

[ZoeBell]

Florida police were notified the day after the incident. It does not appear that they launched their own investigation.

Florida authorities planned to meet the ship back in port to conduct an investigation. Instead of following through and corporating with Florida police Disney reported it to Bahamas authorities who basically looked the other way and let Disney do what they pleased.

 

[Jarvis3]

Florida authorities planned to meet the ship back in port to conduct an investigation. Instead of following through and corporating with Florida police Disney reported it to Bahamas authorities who basically looked the other way and let Disney do what they pleased.

Query, please - what authority does a cruise line have to "hold" someone against their will to be collected by a police agency two or three ports later? If not surrendered to the Bahamian authorities (and please remember that these ships are flagged Bahamian), this person could have just left, as Disney had no legal right to restrain him. They are not a law enforcement body....

 

[ZoeBell]

Query, please - what authority does a cruise line have to "hold" someone against their will to be collected by a police agency two or three ports later? If not surrendered to the Bahamian authorities (and please remember that these ships are flagged Bahamian), this person could have just left, as Disney had no legal right to restrain him. They are not a law enforcement body....

The person in question was person of interest In crime committed in the US. Not only did Disney have the authority, IMO they had an obligation.

This little girl deserved to have accusation investigation. Thanks to Disney And a little wink wink from the Bahamas that won't happen.

It's not a coincidence theses ships are are registered someplace other then the stricter US.

 

[Rogillio]

The person in question was person of interest In crime committed in the US. Not only did Disney have the authority, IMO they had an obligation.

This little girl deserved to have accusation investigation. Thanks to Disney And a little wink wink from the Bahamas that won't happen.

It's not a coincidence theses ships are are registered someplace other then the stricter US.

Person of interest? Watching too much CSI? He was not a person of interest nor was he a suspect in th US because no offense had been claimed or levied against him in th US. Also, a crime alleged by an 11 yo needs corroboration....in this case he confessed but only AFTER being turned over to the Bahamians.

The fact that they are are flagged in the Bahmas is a week attempt at slander and totally irrevelent.

 

[rhorsley]

Florida authorities planned to meet the ship back in port to conduct an investigation. Instead of following through and corporating with Florida police Disney reported it to Bahamas authorities who basically looked the other way and let Disney do what they pleased.

Yes, I'm sorry...that's what I was trying to say...my understanding is that unless reported on our shores, a molestation of a Brazilian girl by an Indian man on a ship registered in the Bahamas cannot be persued by FL police. However, if the police had been called when docked, regardless of what the grandmother ultimately decided, law states that the FL officers were required to investigate. Since, it wasn't reported at that time, the little floating piece of the Bahamas went to the real Bahamas, where the law requires the victim (or guardian) to officially file a complaint.

I don't think it is beyond the realm of possibility, that between the time the ship left port & arrived in Nassau someone(s) aboard convinced the family to let it go. They fire the employee, ship him home, make the gesture a Vegas dealer makes when they are "out" and hoped the report wouldn't be turned up. Which it has.

I adore Disney, as many of us do, but the best thing they can do now is come out and say they made a terrible mistake and are doing x, y & z to ensure something like this never happens again. My degree is in PR, and for a business steeped in the care & entertainment of children this is their best option now.

Staying silent or advising they "only knew a girl was made to feel uncomfortable" won't appease their consumers or investors. They want to know their children are safe in their hands regardless of any other facts in this event. Disney needs to come out ahead of this and strongly emphasize what they are doing now to stop these kinds of incidents.

 

[tinkerone]

Florida authorities planned to meet the ship back in port to conduct an investigation. Instead of following through and corporating with Florida police Disney reported it to Bahamas authorities who basically looked the other way and let Disney do what they pleased.

where did this come from? i don't remember reading it anywhere. i could have missed it but as there is so much 'unknown' that people are surmising on, i'm just wondering.
lots of miss information.

 

[rhorsley]

Florida authorities planned to meet the ship back in port to conduct an investigation. Instead of following through and corporating with Florida police Disney reported it to Bahamas authorities who basically looked the other way and let Disney do what they pleased.

Person of interest? Watching too much CSI? He was not a person of interest nor was he a suspect in th US because no offense had been claimed or levied against him in th US. Also, a crime alleged by an 11 yo needs corroboration....in this case he confessed but only AFTER being turned over to the Bahamians.

The fact that they are are flagged in the Bahmas is a week attempt at slander and totally irrevelent.

I believe the video, which was reviewed prior to departure (& remember there are cameras in the elevator) was quite sufficient corroboration for the girl.

 

[PizzieDuster]

I saw the video. Unfortunately it's not exactly conclusive evidence of anything.

OCC, where is everyone seeing this video at? The one link didn't work for me.

 

[Rogillio]

Yes, I'm sorry...that's what I was trying to say...my understanding is that unless reported on our shores, a molestation of a Brazilian girl by an Indian man on a ship registered in the Bahamas cannot be persued by FL police. However, if the police had been called when docked, regardless of what the grandmother ultimately decided, law states that the FL officers were required to investigate. Since, it wasn't reported at that time, the little floating piece of the Bahamas went to the real Bahamas, where the law requires the victim (or guardian) to officially file a complaint.

I don't think it is beyond the realm of possibility, that between the time the ship left port & arrived in Nassau someone(s) aboard convinced the family to let it go. They fire the employee, ship him home, make the gesture a Vegas dealer makes when they are "out" and hoped the report wouldn't be turned up. Which it has.

I adore Disney, as many of us do, but the best thing they can do now is come out and say they made a terrible mistake and are doing x, y & z to ensure something like this never happens again. My degree is in PR, and for a business steeped in the care & entertainment of children this is their best option now.

Staying silent or advising they "only knew a girl was made to feel uncomfortable" won't appease their consumers or investors. They want to know their children are safe in their hands regardless of any other facts in this event. Disney needs to come out ahead of this and strongly emphasize what they are doing now to stop these kinds of incidents.

Good to hear from a PR professional. My thought is, this is NOT national news. Only shown on Orlando news If they believe nothing wash handled wrong, why even addresses it? It it goes national, yes get in front of it but for now, it is local sensationalization.

 

[rhorsley]

It is local now...but this is Disney and an offense involving a child. It will get out, so they need to get ahead of it.

BTW, if you read this entire article it will explain the nuances and may make it more plausible that they would wait until they were "at sea" so they would be the law enforcement in charge.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/travel/26crime.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

[Bluestars]

OCC, where is everyone seeing this video at? The one link didn't work for me.

Try this link.

I would have been furious if this happened to my daughter.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/di...ort/-/1637132/20227248/-/1hsdp6z/-/index.html

 

[tinkerone]

Good to hear from a PR professional. My thought is, this is NOT national news. Only shown on Orlando news If they believe nothing wash handled wrong, why even addresses it? It it goes national, yes get in front of it but for now, it is local sensationalization.

agreed! i did a search on CNN and nothing came up. last thing they have is the wealthy hiring disabled. so far the only place its big news is on the DIS.
don't get me wrong, child molestation is the worst crime ever but when did we become a lynch mob? get all the facts first, don't surmise, and lets make sure they are correct facts. not just what we think happened.

 

[rhorsley]

Also, as a PR professional...once it goes national you can no longer get ahead of it. When bad news goes national, you play catch-up and it looks like you are on the defensive and not the offensive side. Regardless of what has or might happen with this particular case, Disney as a Corp needs to come out with all the facts on this now and tell the public how they have corrected policy to avoid in the future. Everyone makes mistakes, but the public is far less forgiving if they feel you are only admitting the mistake because you got caught & had to.

 

[PatriciaH]

Looks like it has started to go national and international.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...server-33-molested-girl-11-ship-elevator.html

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2013/0...ampaign=Feed:+CruiseLawNews+(Cruise+Law+News)

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...ort/-/4714498/20236926/-/ve0helz/-/index.html

http://www.etravelblackboardasia.co...olestation-by-crew-member-of-11-year-old-girl

 

[DMMarla07860]

So is there more then one side of this story out? Before I start blaming DCL, I would like to know. Sorry this happened to the girl, but the grandmother didn't do more it seems? I didn't fully ready this thread, just bits and pieces. Why is this just coming out now? Did they not tell someone once off the ship after the cruise? I need all the facts before I start taking sides. Though I am sorry for the girl, but not going to judge because don't have all the facts

 

[PizzieDuster]

Thank you Bluestar.

That was awful to watch. That poor girl. In just seconds. He's even looking around!!! This is disgusting! There was no reason for him to look around and enter the elevator. That lil girl probably thought he was an elevator operator, an employee. Good lord.

DMMarla, I agree, we don't need to take sides. The video is just disturbing in itself.

The security report said he "grabbed her breast, gropped her and then kissed her, mouth to mouth". How is an 11 year old going to make that up?