Investigation says Barnwell violated harassment policy

The conduct of Savannah State University’s former police chief with three female officers violated the school’s sexual harassment policy, according to a state investigative reports released Thursday.

The officers said they feared retaliation if they told others about his conduct, the reports say.

The most serious allegation was that then-chief, James Barnwell, twice had forcible oral sex with an officer without her consent. Other complaints included he inappropriately touched the officers, asked crude questions about their sex lives and made sexual propositions.

The investigator could not determine whether the sexual assault accusation was true. But after interviewing the female officers, Barnwell and others, the investigator concluded Barnwell violated the University System of Georgia’s sexual harassment policy.

Barnwell denied the allegations in sworn affidavits and through an Atlanta-based attorney, who wrote a seven-page letter to the investigator.

“During his 34-year tenure, Chief Barnwell’s name has been unblemished in the law enforcement community,” the attorney, Carlton Stewart, wrote. “Unfortunately, a recent but curious rash of unsupported allegations has been invented. He unequivocally denies the allegations.”

Barnwell became chief in March 2016 after a 22-year career with Savannah’s police department. The women said the harassment and misconduct began shortly after he was hired by Savannah State.

One officer said Barnwell wrote her up for “conduct unbecoming of an officer” after refusing a sexual advance. Another officer said Barnwell fired her sister in retaliation for denying his desire for a sexual relationship. Barnwell wouldn’t give the third officer a raise after she filed a complaint, she said.

Savannah State began its investigation of Barnwell in March. The investigator, Na’Tasha WebbPrather, completed her reports on May 22. Barnwell was fired after the report was completed.