Wake County prosecutor lobbies for protection following Wake Forest kidnapping
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A Wake County prosecutor whose father was kidnapped in an alleged revenge plot rescued a bill to protect law enforcement privacy Wednesday.
Colleen Janssen was observing a House Judiciary subcommittee debate at the General Assembly on the online protection bill when it became clear the vote would be close. Some members indicated they weren't inclined to vote for the bill to allow law enforcement to remove personal information from government websites.
That's when Janssen asked to speak.
"Consider this bill not as a perfect solution, but as part of the solution. It is one step in helping help, helping something like this not happen so easily again," she told lawmakers.
Janssen's father Frank was allegedly kidnapped from his Wake Forest home April 5, beaten, and driven to Atlanta. Days later, he was rescued by the FBI.
Investigators say the crime was orchestrated by 49-year-old Kelvin Melton who had a cell phone in his prison cell. They claim the motive was revenge. It was Colleen Janssen who put the gang leader behind bars. Prosecutors say the kidnappers thought the Wake Forest home was hers, and they got the information online.
Despite Janssen's personal plea to lawmakers Thursday, the vote was close. Some, like Representative George Cleveland, voted against the extra data protections for law enforcement workers.
"The information's available through a myriad of other areas. So, you know, why put something in law that really has no big effect whatsoever?" he offered.
But in the end, the bill narrowly passed out of the subcommittee. Janssen's colleague Jeff Cruden - who she is supporting in his run for Wake County District Attorney - said she made the difference.
"Colleen being here and speaking obviously, I think, had a huge impact on them," he said.
Janssen insists the bill is a step in the right direction.
"It will make it that much harder to locate the home addresses of prosecutors, law enforcement, people who have, who are put in a position on a regular basis of creating enemies out of these types of people," she offered.
Although she addressed the committee, she declined media requests for interviews afterward.
"Because of the unique situation that's she's in she doesn't feel like she can speak before the media. And I understand that and respect that. We're glad that she's back with us," said Cruden.
The committee also passed another bill that has several provisions that relate to the Janssen kidnapping. Among other things, it would make it a felony for an inmate to have a cell phone in prison or for anyone to provide a phone to an inmate. It would also make it illegal to threaten or assault someone in retaliation against a government official.
