“Slut” Comment Prompts Apology from Toronto Police Officer

Const. Michael Sanguinetti told a York University safety forum that women should dress conservatively to avoid sexual assaults.

In retrospect, Sanguinetti admitted it was not exactly an enlightened statement. Speaking at a community safety meeting Jan. 24, Sanguinetti interrupted another officer to inform the audience that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” The statement shocked attendees and apparently led to complaints being made to the Toronto Police Service. Sanguinetti issued a written apology and is facing discipline from the force. Victims’ advocates have long said that the pervasive idea that women’s style of dress contributes to assaults is a myth and amounts to blaming the victim. A spokeswoman for the Toronto police said that officers are taught that how a woman dresses is not a contributing factor in sexual assaults.