Review: NYPD Inaction over a Missing Black Woman

I recently read the feature article NYPD Inaction over a Missing Black Woman Found Dead Sparks a History Racial-Bias Lawsuit (6/5/2008, Sean Gardiner, The Village Voice). The article tells the story of a 21-year-old woman Romona Moore who went missing in 2003.

The article goes into great detail of how the family was impacted by the tragedy. The family was concerned for her well being because she had said she was going out to buy a burger and would be back shortly. She never returned. Despite being a shy woman who was always at home or studying, the police decided that she was a runaway and did not investigate further.

After several days of their own searching, the family finally got in contact with the media who said that they were not interested in the story. The family then went to local politicians who demanded the police reopen the investigation.

A witness contacted the family and told them where to find the body. She had been tortured for several days. The family were suing the police for not doing enough. They claim it was because she was black.

The writer tries to present the story from both the family and the police. He points out how many missing cases the police get each day and that the majority are runaways.

The language used is very direct and to the point. The article is written in a factual way with no embellishment. The main thread of the article is in chronological order, beginning with Ms Moore leaving the house then going through her search and discovery. Quotes from the family and information about the victim are interwoven throughout the article.

The most prominent section is where the lack of police interest is contrasted with the case of a woman who went missing two months earlier. This woman was the wife of a doctor. The police were active on the case immediately working full time and door knocking. There was a press conference and messages on a loud speaker.

The article also contains facts that further convey a sense of injustice. The police used a psychic to find the doctor’s wife. The murderers thought it odd that there was nothing about the abduction on the news. The police had gone to the house where the victim was being held and had noticed items of hers there but did not look further. The most astonishing fact is left to the last sentence, the officer that investigated the disappearance of Ms Moore got a promotion, for his good work on the case.