CNN Investigation on sex crimes with Theme Park Employees

[rteetz]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/14/us/theme-park-employees-child-sex-stings/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

In a CNN exclusive report tonight some surprising findings had been found.
35 Disney employees have been arrested since 2006 for sex crimes
During that time 5 from Universal and 2 from SeaWorld were also found.
32 people have been convicted
2 cases of child pornography occurred on Disney property
none of the cases involved children or teens visiting the parks

In a statement to CNN, Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said, "Providing a safe environment for children and families is a responsibility we take very seriously. We have extensive measures in place, including pre-employment and ongoing criminal background checks and computer monitoring and firewalls.
"The numbers reported by CNN represent one one-hundredth of one percent of the 300,000 people we have employed during this time period. We continue to work closely with law enforcement and organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as we constantly strengthen our efforts."

In a statement, Universal Studios spokesman Tom Schroder said, "We have zero tolerance for this kind of activity. We deal with situations such as this immediately and permanently." The company, like Disney and SeaWorld, requires that "all our team members undergo thorough background checks as part of the hiring process."

 

[mousefan73]

Reports like this make me sad. Sad for the kids, sad for humanity.

People there are monsters out there. Take care.

 

[usd2bmd]

When you employ as many people as Disney and Universal, it is not suprising to see that they have the issue as well. Considering how prevalent it is in our society as a whole.

It's sad but if we listed every employer who had employees arrested and/or convicted I think it would be a pretty long list.

 

[brittanyyyrocks]

"The numbers reported by CNN represent one one-hundredth of one percent of the 300,000 people we have employed during this time period. . ."

The number of people arrested seems high at first, until you realize what a small percentage of Disney employees it really is. I do agree that this is a problem across the board, not just at Disney though.

 

[BrianL]

I hate the way they try to sensationalize this because they were theme park employees. You could probably look at any industry/employer that had over 300,000 employees and find the same thing. It's everywhere! Teachers, clergy, politicians, you name it. They just know they can get the traction by calling out Disney and Universal in the headline.

 

[rteetz]

I hate the way they try to sensationalize this because they were theme park employees. You could probably look at any industry/employer that had over 300,000 employees and find the same thing. It's everywhere! Teachers, clergy, politicians, you name it. They just know they can get the traction by calling out Disney and Universal in the headline.

That is exactly it, its everywhere but CNN knew it would have a bigger audience draw if they used Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld

 

[Aurora0427]

These monsters are everywhere... Disney isn't immune.

 

[eadavis]

Given the fact that Disney employs over 66,000 people in Central Florida alone...any time there are mass arrests, regardless of the crime, a Disney employee or two are bound to be among them.

There have been countless threads on this topic over the last few years regarding this topic and the same themes always find themselves on the board. It's near impossible to catch a pedophile until you catch them in the act. Heck, just earlier this week members of the KKK were discovered within FDLE. I wonder how many are within Disney, probably a couple, we won't know until they break the law or do something to expose themselves...

 

[Andrew015]

I would venture a guess that Disney's percentage is lower than that of public school teachers or Catholic priests.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

I would venture a guess that Disney's percentage is lower than that of public school teachers or Catholic priests.

I agree. I feel like CNN did this for the fear factor. My kids are probably safer at Disney than any where else, they are always with their father or I every minute of the trip.

 

[carmelhp]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/14/us/theme-park-employees-child-sex-stings/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

In a CNN exclusive report tonight some surprising findings had been found.
35 Disney employees have been arrested since 2006 for sex crimes
During that time 5 from Universal and 2 from SeaWorld were also found.
32 people have been convicted
2 cases of child pornography occurred on Disney property
none of the cases involved children or teens visiting the parks

In a statement to CNN, Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said, "Providing a safe environment for children and families is a responsibility we take very seriously. We have extensive measures in place, including pre-employment and ongoing criminal background checks and computer monitoring and firewalls.
"The numbers reported by CNN represent one one-hundredth of one percent of the 300,000 people we have employed during this time period. We continue to work closely with law enforcement and organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as we constantly strengthen our efforts."

In a statement, Universal Studios spokesman Tom Schroder said, "We have zero tolerance for this kind of activity. We deal with situations such as this immediately and permanently." The company, like Disney and SeaWorld, requires that "all our team members undergo thorough background checks as part of the hiring process."

These numbers are surprising. With a workforce as big and transient as Disney, I'd expect it to be much, much higher. Can you imagine what Walmart's numbers must be like. I think our local university had more convictions of employees than that.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Disney does extensive background checks, personnel, financial, criminal, sex offended lists, etc. They do check/call references and even the background of the references.

I know that for a fact as my daughter is undergoing a background investigation for a office job with Disney now.

They even do checks on some guests entering the parks for sexual charges/ attacks.

AKK

 

[Tragedy6996]

This is just sad and disturbing