Evers Announces Sweeping Reforms Within Wisconsin National Guard |
News |
Written by GOV Press Wisconsin |
Monday, 09 December 2019 17:07 |
http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/wi-national-guard-troops-s5.jpgGovernor calls for changes in leadership, sexual assault and harassment reporting procedures, investigation protocols, and accountability measures in the Wisconsin National Guard. MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced sweeping reforms within the Wisconsin National Guard, to include a change in leadership, in response to a federal review which detailed systemic failures by the Wisconsin National Guard in its handling of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and retaliation allegations. On March 14, 2019, Gov. Evers, along with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, requested the federal National Guard Bureau Office of Complex Investigations (OCI) conduct an independent and comprehensive review of the Wisconsin National Guard’s handling of allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Over the course of six months, OCI conducted a thorough investigation that included canvassing approximately 1,600 Wisconsin National Guard personnel, conducting 78 in-depth interviews, reviewing over 1,100 documents, and conducting 10 site visits to military installations throughout the state. OCI recently finalized its report of the assessment. The report comprehensively documents where the Wisconsin National Guard’s policies and practices fail to hold perpetrators accountable and leave survivors unsupported. The report also provides 21 recommendations on how to correct these failings. “I am extremely upset and concerned with the National Guard Bureau Office of Complex Investigations’ findings, especially with how the Wisconsin National Guard investigates sexual assault allegations,” said Gov. Evers. “Our service members deserve to be safe and supported while carrying out their important mission, which is why I have ordered the Wisconsin National Guard to implement top-to-bottom changes to ensure a safe workplace in the Guard, one that is free of sexual assault and harassment and the fear they might face retaliation for reporting sexual assault or harassment when it happens.” “New leadership is also needed to successfully implement these reforms,” Gov. Evers continued. “Earlier today I asked for and accepted Adjutant General Dunbar’s resignation, effective December 31, 2019. This will ensure an orderly transition and minimize disruption for our guardsmen and airmen.” The process to select a new adjutant general will begin in the coming weeks. Brigadier General Gary L. Ebben will serve as interim adjutant general pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 321.10(2), which states that “the senior ranking deputy adjutant general for army, air, or civil authority support shall have all the powers and duties of the adjutant general.” In addition to a change in leadership, other drastic changes are needed to correct this situation. Gov. Evers today signed Executive Order #62 to direct the Wisconsin National Guard to promptly and fully correct the 22 findings OCI identified in its report and faithfully implement OCI’s 21 recommendations. Executive Order #62 does the following:
Gov. Evers believes that this report belongs to the public and has chosen to release these findings. However, if you are a survivor of sexual harassment or sexual assault, reading the report may be retraumatizing. Access the report here and appendices to the report here. Due to concerns about safety and retaliation, the report contains redactions made by the National Guard Bureau to protect the identity of survivors, whistleblowers, and other Guard personnel. Please know that there are many resources available to assist you:
Reporting new misconduct:
Reporting retaliation
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