Federal officials to review Wisconsin National Guard's handling of sexual assault and harassment allegations
Molly Beck
MADISON – The Wisconsin National Guard's handling of sexual assault and harassment allegations within its own ranks will be the subject of a federal review, Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced Wednesday.
The review by the National Guard Bureau's Office of Complex Investigations comes after the two state leaders in March asked the office to look into the Wisconsin unit after multiple constituents and National Guard members "have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and assault, retaliation and inadequate accountability for those who commit sexual misconduct.”
The review is expected to take months and will examine the Guard's policies, review allegations and provide recommendations on how to prevent assault and harassment.
The team conducting the review also plans to meet with former and current members of the Wisconsin National Guard, and has created a state email address at nationalguardassessment@wisconsin.gov for members "to share concerns or complaints about sexual harassment and assault."
"The bottom line is that our service members deserve to work in an environment that’s free of sexual assault and harassment and the fear they might face retaliation for reporting sexual assault or harassment when it happens, and I am hopeful that OCI’s thorough, impartial review will help us to ensure the safety of our folks in uniform," Evers said in a statement.
Wisconsin National Guard officials received 52 reports of sexual assault between 2013 and 2017, 10 of which were substantiated. Two resulted in a courts-martial proceeding and one case has not yet been resolved.
Eight of the substantiated cases resulted in discipline of Guard members, including demotion in rank, letters of reprimand and separation, according to the Guard.
Wisconsin National Guard spokesman Capt. Joe Trovato said the Guard "welcomes a thorough and independent review" of the unit's response to allegations and its policies.
"The Wisconsin National Guard strives for continuous organizational improvement, and we look forward to the opportunity to work with the National Guard Bureau's Office of Complex Investigations to identify areas where we can grow as an organization and will provide them with any information they might request," Trovato said.
The review comes after a separate request Baldwin made in November to the U.S. Air Force asking officials there to investigate multiple claims of sexual assault and harassment within the Madison-based Wisconsin Air National Guard unit "dating back decades."
RELATED:Sen. Tammy Baldwin seeks Wisconsin Air National Guard sexual misconduct investigation
In a Nov. 13 letter to the Congressional Inquiry Division of the Air Force, Baldwin asks for a review of allegations ranging from "inappropriate comments to actual assault."
Air Force Inspector General Jacqueline Albright in a Nov. 16 letter told Baldwin she referred the request to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and in a Jan. 9 letter, Albright said the office was conducting a review of allegations made by Master Sgt. Jay Ellis, who told Baldwin he knew of six incidents of sexual assault or harassment against female members of the unit that occurred between 2002 and 2016.
Ellis said high-ranking officers have done little to address them.
Baldwin said Wednesday an "impartial outside review of past actions, current protocols, and future improvements" is the best way to improve a working environment free of sexual harassment and assault.
Wisconsin National Guard's Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar has defended the Guard's policies and procedures in light of the requests for a review by outside officials.
"The Wisconsin National Guard has taken numerous steps in recent years to protect service members and to prevent assault or harassment from taking place," Dunbar wrote to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald on March 7. "We have also made it a priority to investigate allegations and, when those allegations are substantiated, prosecute and punish offenders."
Dunbar said the Guard has a zero tolerance policy and that "our leaders work actively to foster a culture of trust that encourages reporting and seeks to ensure that victims feel comfortable coming forward."
Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, in February asked Dunbar for a review of policies and possible changes to improve the Guard's procedures after he met with a female soldier in January who said she was harassed by a fellow soldier who wasn't punished.
Fitzgerald said he still has concerns following Dunbar's response.
Trovato said the Guard "takes all allegations of sexual assault, harassment or misconduct seriously, and eliminating it from our ranks has long been one of our organization’s top priorities."
Contact Molly Beck in the Capitol bureau at (608) 258-2263 or at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.