A three-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department is in County Jail today, accused of raping a prostitute overnight in Presidio Park.
Daniel Dana, 26, was arrested and booked one day after Police Chief William Lansdowne apologized for recent police misconduct. The besieged chief turned around and fired Dana this afternoon.
The now-former officer is accuses of rape, kidnap, assault by a public officer, oral copulation by threat of authority, oral copulation by threat of retaliation and rape by threat of retaliation among other charges.
Television stations are reporting that polices sources said the officer demanded sex in exchange for not sending the woman to jail.
The department issued this press release on the incident this afternoon:
"Yesterday, the San Diego Police Department released a comprehensive program intended to address the recent spike in officer misconduct cases. Unfortunately, shortly after its release, the San Diego Police Department arrested and booked into jail another one of its own.
On Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at approximately 3:00 a.m., a 34 year old female alleged she was raped and forced to orally copulate an on-duty San Diego Police officer. The female stated she had developed a friendly relationship with the officer over the past several weeks and that she received a text message from the officer and arranged to meet him. According to the victim, once they were together, the officer told her that she would be arrested if she did not perform sexual acts with him. Fearing arrest, the female went with the officer to a local park where she complied with his demands. The female called the San Diego Police Department to report the incident.
At approximately 2:00 p.m., Officer Daniel Dana, was booked into county jail and charged with kidnapping and rape under the color of authority. Daniel Dana, 26, has been with the Department for approximately 4 years. As of today, Dana is no longer a member of the San Diego Police Department.
The Sex Crimes Unit will continue to investigate the incident."
