Question C

[Jonetta]

Was Detective Nolasco’s selection of Jennifer Almond for the pat down demonstration deliberate (versus Tracy)? Your thoughts about what he did to her and her reaction?

[Sharon]

It was deliberate. She is a beautiful, petite woman. Personally, I think he was bating Tracy with his actions. He wanted her to know what he was going to do to her.

Jennifer knew his actions were a deliberate play to get her to quit. If she fought back, he could kick her out of the program. She was brave to take the humiliation and not fight back. It isn't easy.

[Jonetta]

I think it was deliberate, too, because deep down Nolasco is a bit intimated by Tracy. It’s why he was opposed to her being accepted. He’s just a bully and knew he could get away with groping Jennifer in plain view. He was also baiting Tracy, thinking she’d report him and he’d use that against her. He certainly played this wrong.

While I understand why Jennifer didn’t react, I think she was dead wrong in doing that. Tracy gave her sage advice about never letting a man assault her like this. She had other choices and should have called him out in the moment. Nolasco could never have gotten. Ickes out over this. Look at what happened when he tried to do same to Tracy. No man ever gets to touch a woman like that and feel free to do so.

[Sharon]

I agree that no man gets to assault a woman, but Jennifer didn't have the confidence to to against her trainer. Too many women in that situation would cry, which makes her seem weak. Jennifer did what she thought she had to do to get through the exercise.

[Jonetta]

The only problem with that is he would just keep doing it. Tracy’s mentoring will definitely give her the confidence to never let this happen again but she had more options than to just cry. She could have stopped and asked why he wasn’t using the back of his hand like the manual says. Was there a change she was unaware of? You can send a message without being confrontational but in no way let him keep doing it. I’d just ask for a replacement and sit down, anything but letting him manhandle her sexually. It’s assault.

[Sharon]

You have a point. That is how I would react today, but in the moment I believe his actions caught Jennifer by surprise. She couldn't think on her feet fast enough. I'm sure when she left she ran a list through her head like "I should have done..."

That happens to me sometimes. After the shock wears off I kick myself for all the things I didn't do or say.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Sharon, I think we all have moments like that. And young women of today also will not put up with what their more mature sisters might have. Which is a very good thing.

[Sharon]

I agree. I know I taught my daughters to stand up to anyone who treats them badly.

[~Melissa~]

It was definitely deliberate and he was hoping she would quit along with humiliating her. I agree with Jonetta that Nolasco is intimidated by Tracy. She's pretty and smart as well as has been able to hold her own during the training. I was just like Tracy - rooting for Jennifer to not cry during this ordeal. Was nice to see that most of the male recruits were portrayed as thinking what Nolasco did to Jennifer was wrong.
Was so happy to see Tracy volunteer herself next.

[Robin]

He picked Jennifer because he considered her the weaker of the two women. And he was baiting Tracy, waiting to see how she would react to the way he was treating Jennifer.

I was on the edge of my seat when Tracy volunteered to be next. I couldn't wait to see what she was going to do.

[Sharon]

Me too Robin. I knew Tracy could handle the situation. I wanted to see how.

[Karen ♐]

I think that sometimes you are so shocked, you don't know what to do. He knew that of the two women, Jennifer would most likely just accept what he did. I give women so much credit today. They can feel comfortable telling the offender to stop. At least I think in most cases...We really didn't have that option in the past.

This is one of the reasons I really love Tracy! I loved how she let him have it!

[Charlene]

I enjoyed reading all of your comments and observations, and I say, "Hear, hear."

[Sharon]

This was a good conversation starter.