Retired Officers Take On Rape Case

Friday, December 7th 2007, 3:55 pm

By: News On 6

The Broken Arrow Police Department hires two retired officers. The two are spending their time helping an angel. The 5-year-old girl who was raped in Broken Arrow a couple of months ago has been called the Broken Arrow Angel. The News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports police are so committed to catching the man who kidnapped the girl, they've hired two veteran officers to focus on that case.

The two retired officers were hired to take and sort through all the tips that come in on the case. More tips are still pouring in everyday.

Dan Clark served 27 years with BAPD before retiring three years ago. Now, he's right back where he began. When he heard he'd be working the BA angel case, he couldn't refuse.

"I have three, 5-year-old granddaughters myself and a 4-year-old granddaughter so it hit kinda close. You think it could've been one of mine if somebody wasn't watching them close,â€ said Broken Arrow Police Officer Dan Clark.

Just walking through the BAPD Detective Division, you can see how important this case is. Sketches of the rape suspect are everywhere. The 5-year-old girl was taken from her front yard, viciously attacked, then dumped about eight miles away. She was found naked, crying and bleeding by strangers. Not catching the suspect has been frustrating for all involved.

"The real frustrating part is he's probably going to do it again. In fact, it's been two and a half months. I'm surprised he hasn't already,â€ said Dan Clark, retired police officer.

Dan and his partner take the tips, run the information through city and state computer databases, and then pass it off to field detectives for any legwork.

With more than 1,600 tips called in so far, these red folders contain tips these two detectives still need to sort through and investigate. Theyâ€™re just now calling some people back who phoned in September, so the process takes time and they ask for patience and ask people to keep calling with information.

"If they leave a name and number, we call them back and talk with them. We stress, we have your name and number, but nobody else does. It's totally confidential,â€ said retired police officer Dan Clark.

Those 1,600 tips have included names of IRS agents, police officers and firefighters. They investigate them all. They're still looking for that one tip that will lead them to their man. If you recognize the person on the sketch, call the Broken Arrow tipline at 259- 1111.

There is still a $150,000 reward for his arrest and conviction.

Watch the video: Retired Cops Added To BA Rape Case

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